OPINION
Mousa Dembele is reportedly on the verge of leaving Tottenham to join Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan – and it is a major mistake by chairman Daniel Levy to be letting the Belgium international leave.
Dembele, 30, is entering the final year of his contract at Spurs but there is surely something that can be done for the ex-Fulham ace to sign a new deal and ensure that he stays in North London for at least another couple of years.
According to the Daily Star, Dembele is paid £80,000-a-week, and given his performances last season, he is surely worth much more than that.
Time looks as though it is running out for Levy to change his mind though and his reluctance to loosen the purse strings at the club is about to see one of the very best Spurs players leave.
News outlet Football Fan Cast has reported that Dembele is closing in on a move to Beijing Guoan.
It is understood that personal terms are all but agreed between the player and the Chinese giants, with the two clubs involved still negotiating on a fee that is apparently not going to be that high.
What should also be worrying for Spurs fans is that this report claims that Dembele has wanted this move for the last year – so Levy has had plenty of time to nip this in the bud and get him signed up on a new deal.
The midfielder was arguably one of the best players for Mauricio Pochettino’s side last season with his dynamic displays in the centre of the pitch.
Will Spurs be able to replace him properly? Or will Spurs once again take the cheap option of promoting someone like Victor Wanyama to a bigger first team role?
Either way it’s a worrying deal for Spurs fans, and they must pray that Levy’s mistake does not impact their league finish next season.