Tottenham Hotspur have hit a snag in their contract negotiations with star defender Toby Alderweireld. The 28-year old Belgian has been a colossal presence in the back for Mauricio Pochettino’s side over the past two seasons and has been crucial in their recent success.
Just like how Spurs handed out new and improved deals to most of their first-team members, Alderweireld too was offered a new deal. However, the defender wants to be in the same wage bracket as the club’s top earners Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris and as a result, the negotiations have hit a roadblock in recent weeks.
With the likes of Manchester United monitoring the situation closely, here are 3 reasons why Tottenham shouldn’t delay signing him on a new deal soon:
Crucial For The Team
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that over the course of the past two seasons, Alderweireld has been one of the best central defenders in the Premier League.
The Belgian has been a real solid presence at the back for Tottenham and has forged an excellent partnership with fellow countryman Jan Vertonghen. Without him in the team, Spurs have been found wanting, as was the case earlier this season when he missed a string of games due to injury.
It’s not just his defensive contributions that are key. Alderweireld, on a number of occasions, has helped his team out with goals. His towering presence in the opponent penalty box is also key for his team.
His overall contribution and value to the team is immense and Tottenham should match his wage demands to keep hold of a player, who is an integral part of the Tottenham core.
Stadium Construction
Another crucial reason for Tottenham wanting to tie down their key players with long contracts as soon as possible, is the construction of their new stadium.
The new stadium which is being built right next to the White Hart Lane costs £750 million and it will definitely have a serious impact on the club’s spending power in the transfer window over the coming years , for a few seasons.
Over the past year, a lot of first-team members have penned a new deal. Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Christian Eriksen, Ben Davies and Harry Winks are just a few players who have signed an extension. Alderweireld is an equally important member of the squad. Losing him would prove to be detrimental for Spurs.
Interests from other clubs
When a quality defender like Alderweireld becomes available, it doesn’t take long for clubs to circle around like sharks. With the contract talks stalling, it has already put rivals Manchester United on alert and their boss Jose Mourinho is keen on bringing the Belgian to Old Trafford.
United are very well capable of meeting Alderweireld’s wage demands and probably will offer even more than that. Hence it becomes imperative for Spurs to pay the defender if they are to avoid the risk of losing him to their direct rivals.