According to ESPN the club face a conundrum over Toby Alderweireld’s future after the latest contract talks with the defender ended in stalemate.
It’s well know that we have been trying to tie Alderweireld to a new deal for more than a year but we are no closer to an agreement after talks broke down last month.
His current deal, worth £55,000-a-week, expires in 2019 and the article adds that the Belgium international, 28, is aware of his value and would like a long-term contract worth closer to £150,000-per-week — in line with the best-paid centre-backs in the Premier League — to see him towards the end of his career at the highest level.
It adds how we are reluctant to meet Alderweireld’s demands, with Harry Kane currently our best-paid player on around £110,000-a-week plus significant performance-related bonuses.
It adds that the club can trigger an option to extend Alderweireld’s contract by a year to 2020, however that would activate a buyout clause allowing him to leave if we receive a £25 million bid in the final two weeks of the 2019 summer window.
It adds that Alderweireld is aware that there would be no shortage of interest but Spurs also believe they have a strong hand given that they have had good results without him this season and know that he has suffered serious injuries in the last two campaigns.
The Belgian described the recent hamstring injury that sidelined him for over three months as the worst of his career with his return from it has further complicated the situation. He has believed himself fully fit for some time — and declared himself ready to return on Jan. 24 — but did not feature until last week’s FA Cup win over Newport and was then left out of the squad for the games against Arsenal and Juventus.
Mauricio Pochettino explained his position to Alderweireld during a two-hour meeting after the draw at Liverpool on February 4th and said on Monday: “The player always feels they are fit to play, but it is our responsibility to take the best decision. When you can’t play, it’s difficult to accept.”
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