OPINION
Tottenham priced Toby Alderweireld out of Manchester United’s reach over the summer – and must do so again when they next come calling.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy reportedly slapped a £60million price tag on the Belgium international and refused to deviate from that stance even as the player held out on deadline day for the move that never came.
Levy must use all his cunning and transfer market experience to put the block on Alderweireld leaving in the January window, even if the player pushes hard to engineer a move.
A fresh United pursuit is a genuine possibility after Jose Mourinho was spotted on a scouting mission at Belgium’s clash against Iceland last Thursday.
Bleacher Report claim the Portugese was scouting Alderweireld and is calling on the United board to “pursue him more actively ahead of the next transfer window”.
Mourinho’s side are sorely lacking an elite centre-back, even though Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling have performed reasonably well of late.
Certainly, Alderweireld has the pedigree and experience to instantly improve their back line and offer better protection that David de Gea is used to. The Belgian is also excellent distributing the ball from the back and has a technical expertise way above the current United defenders.
Tottenham can ill afford to lose Alderweireld at the midway point of the season, even though his exit next summer is inevitable unless he agrees a new contract with the club. That seems unlikely.
With Jan Vertonghen injured, Davinson Sanchez still developing, Juan Foyth hugely exciting but callow and Eric Dier preferred by Mauricio Pochettino in midfield, losing the former Atletico Madrid man is out of the question.