Why the departure of key star trio would leave Tottenham in a rut
According to a report by Daily Star, Tottenham Hotspur could lose their star trio of Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld on free transfers next summer.
Following Danny Rose’s footsteps, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld will reject new contract offers to ensure that they wouldn’t be prevented from moving away in the summer (h/t Daily Star).
The three former Ajax players’ departures would be a huge loss to Spurs, who are already languishing in the bottom half of the table. They have been the core of the club since their arrival and have been vital under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Belgian duo’s commendable partnership at the heart of the defence has kept Spurs out of humiliating losses on many occasions. Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen has been the driving force in their attack.
Last year’s Champions League finalists have been underfiring this season and they are unable to replicate their match-winning displays from previous campaigns. The Lilywhites haven’t tasted success in their last four league matches, winning just 3 out their 12 fixtures so far this term.
Christian Eriksen
According to the Express, Tottenham are already in pursuit of a replacement for Eriksen. The Dane has been a mainstay for the club since his arrival from Ajax in 2013.
In his 291 appearances for the club, he has scored 68 times and provided 87 assists. The 27-year-old has created more than double the goalscoring chances for his teammates.
Jan Vertonghen
The Belgian came to Spurs in 2012 and has since made 294 appearances for the Lilywhites. A strong force at centre-back, Vertonghen has also contributed from the left-back and defensive midfield positions.
He has had an illustrious career and is undoubtedly one of the main reasons behind Tottenham’s rise to the top. Though injuries have been an issue for him, his performances have made him one of the most underrated defenders in Europe.
Toby Alderweireld
Along with Vertonghe, the 30-year-old was influential in their run to the Champions League finals last season.
The Belgian has a lot of experience after making 172 appearances for Spurs. His partnership with Vertonghen for both club and country has made them quite strong. They were also influential in Ajax’s back-to-back Eredivisie-winning campaigns.
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Verdict
All said and done, Pochettino cannot afford to lose the star trio all at the same time. It would be tough for the manager to replace them.
The trio’s experience is immense and the Argentine boss must ensure that he does not lose them.