Danny Murphy has urged Manchester United to make a move for Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian international has a release clause in his contract worth £25 million that will be in effect until the last fortnight of the transfer window, as reported by the Guardian, and Murphy believes that United should raid his former side for the £80,000-a-week defender [Spotrac].
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Let’s start at the back. If Toby Alderweireld has a £25million buy-out clause from Tottenham as reported, go and get him.
“He’ll bring experience and knowhow, a 30-year-old at the peak of his powers who can provide leadership for United as Virgil van Dijk has done at Liverpool or Vincent Kompany has given for years at City.”
OPINION
Tottenham fans won’t be too happy with Murphy’s recommendation, but they will be fully aware that Alderweireld will be the subject of much interest this summer given the release clause in his contract. £25 million is a jaw-droppingly low figure for a player of his quality, and it would be no surprise if there was a queue of clubs stretching round the block ready to try and take him off of their hands. Manchester United will surely be chief amongst them, but even if the Reds decide against a move for whatever reason, except big interest from the continent. There are, of course, no guarantees that the Belgian will leave, but at the moment it looks more likely than not, and that will leave Spurs in a bit of a pickle. Money won’t be readily available this summer, you would assume, and replacing a player of Alderweireld’s talents won’t come cheap.