OPINION
With Tottenham reportedly considering selling Toby Alderweireld in the summer, as they have yet to solve his contract issues, the club must ensure they do several things to ease the pain of a key player leaving.
The Times reported on Friday that Mauricio Pochettino had given his backing to the club’s decision to sell the centre-back, after Alderweireld rejected a contract offer totalling £110,000-a-week.
The newspaper claimed that Spurs would rather keep the 28-year-old at the club, but were not willing to risk dressing room unrest or give in to his £150,000-a-week wage demands.
Alderweireld’s current contract runs until 2019 with Spurs having an option to extend it to 2020, according to the Daily Mirror.
However, the Mirror’s report also revealed that if Tottenham trigger the clause to extend Alderweireld’s deal they will activate a £25million release clause.
This stipulation is causing Spurs to consider selling the centre-back in the summer, despite him having made 17 appearances this season, as £25million is way below his market value.
Tottenham are right to let the centre-back go if he won’t accept a new deal that would see him be among their highest earners at the club, but they need to ensure his exit is a deal that works for them.
This is Futbol have picked out three things Tottenham must do if they decide to sell Alderweireld, including which player they must sign as his replacement.
Click below to reveal what Tottenham must not do under any circumstance regarding Alderweireld