Barcelona are plotting a “serious bid” for Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, according to the Independent.
The newspaper claims that the La Liga leaders are monitoring the 28-year-old’s situation given his contract dispute and are eyeing an official move in the summer for him.
It is understood that the Belgian centre-back is currently at a standstill with the North London club as he tries to negotiate a new deal and wants closer to the £180,000-a-week that Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk earns.
The report details that the player’s current deal expires in 2020, but a clause means he could leave for just £25million in the summer of 2019 if no new deal is reached.
Spanish heavyweights Barcelona could move for Alderweireld if his contract problems are not solve by the summer.
Good move for Spurs?
Spurs should not allow Alderweirled to leave under any circumstance and should give him whatever contract he wants.
The ball-playing defender has proven himself to be one of the Premier League’s outstanding players in recent years and fully deserves a new improved deal.
Spurs do have a tight wage structure in place that could prevent this deal and moving forward they can’t hope to become a superpower if they are not willing to pay the big money for star players.
Alderweireld is no doubt a key first teamer for Mauricio Pochettino and is in the peak of his powers.
This Is Futbol rating: 1/10
Likely to happen?
Alderweireld’s future at Spurs does not look good and it would be no surprise to see him be a high-profile exit in the summer.
Barcelona have the pulling power to attract the world’s best players and an imminent bid could see him make the switch to the Camp Nou.
This Is Futbol rating: 5/10