Two replacements Tottenham should consider for Toby Alderweireld

According to a report from The Sun, Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld is ready to run down his contract and secure a free transfer.

The Belgian defender, 30, had a £25m release clause in his contract, which expired two weeks before the end of the transfer window, but no club has made a serious offer for the defender.

The Belgian’s current Tottenham contract expires in 12 months and he is prepared to run it down at which point the centre-back will be free to leave on a free transfer.

From January, Toby Alderweireld can speak to foreign clubs and make a move for nothing at the end of the season. But Tottenham still remain hopeful they can sell him before the European transfer deadline on September 2 and make some money from the defender, the report adds.

Mauricio Pochettino clearly rates Alderweireld, and he started in Tottenham’s first game of the season.

To lose the experienced defender at such a late stage of the summer when no replacement can be signed would be a major problem for Spurs. If the opportunity arrives in January, however, Pochettino should look to flog the Belgian and bring in some money.

But from now on, Pochettino needs to start plotting the 30-year-old’s replacement. With that in mind, here are two replacements Tottenham should consider for Alderweireld when the transfer window reopens in January.

1. Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)

Back in June 2018, Tottenham were heavily linked with Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi. While a move didn’t materialise then, the January transfer window would be the right time for Tottenham to reignite their interest in the defender.

Toloi, 28, played a crucial role in helping Atalanta qualify for the Champions League, contributing one goal and three assists in 21 Serie A games. He has impressed playing in the centre of a back three under Gian Piero Gasperini, with his ability to carry the ball out from the back one of his strength.

The Brazilian defender is out of contract in 2020, so he could be available in a cut-price deal during the January transfer window. Tottenham must certainly take advantage of Atalanta’s situation and go for Toloi.

2. Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Tottenham are in search of a central defender, with Alderweireld set to run down his contract and Jan Vertonghen getting no younger. That leaves Pochettino with Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth as centre-back options, although the latter is currently out injured.

The north London club now can only sign players when the transfer market reopens in January. During that period, Pochettino should go all out for Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive lynchpin, Jonathan Tah.

Jonathan Tah, 23, has already established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s top young defenders after signing for Leverkusen from Hamburg a few years ago. He is known for his composure on the ball, coupled with the excellent passing range that makes him a useful ball-playing centre-back.

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The Germany international can move up the pitch and easily pick passes to midfielders and forwards. Strong in the air and robust in the challenge, the 23-year-old is a technically astute defender, whose positional sense and reading of the game will make him a great fit in Pochettino’s system.

Just like Toloi, Tah was also heavily linked with Tottenham last year.