Tottenham are resigned to losing Toby Alderweireld, and will cash in on him this summer, reports respected Belgian publication HLN – which has been cited by the BBC.
They suggest that Spurs will sell the central defender for £44m at the end of the season, as the 29-year-old is refusing to pen terms on a new contract.
The Guardian state that a £25m release-clause becomes active in 2019, so Daniel Levy would prefer to receive a massive fee this summer instead – especially with Jan Vertonghen and Davison Sanchez the current starters.
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Toby Alderweireld looking to leave Spurs; LFC must consider
Despite this, there is no doubt that Alderweireld is a world-class operator and has been arguably the best central defender in the Premier League since moving to Spurs.
He’s composed in possession, makes perfect decisions and provides a calmness at the back that cannot be taught.
Liverpool have a defender of a similar mould in Virgil van Dijk, but while the Dutchman has settled into our side superbly, there are lingering doubts around whether Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren are capable of partnering him long-term.
Alderweireled is far superior to both and although £44m is expensive, we’d get him for his three best years as a defender – and alongside van Dijk – we’d have a quite simply phenomenal defence.
With Andrew Robertson a revelation at left-back, Loris Karius finally proving he’s a capable no.1 and three Englishman competing for the right-back spot, the future would look very, very exciting.