Former England international Danny Mills has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld could be set to seal a quick-fire departure from the north London club.
The Belgian international has long been linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Evening Standard reporting recently that a release clause allowing teams to buy him for just £25million expires at midnight on July 25.
Mills answered the question of whether a club could swoop in and get him before then: “Quite possibly,” he told Football Insider. “If he does, it will all be teed up already.
“Everything will be in place, personal terms. It will just be a case of crossing Ts, dotting Is, getting the medical done and it will all be done very, very quickly. I’m surprised no one’s come in and triggered it, very, very surprised.”
Likely to happen?
Well, this is the thing, isn’t it? Alderweireld has long been linked with a move away from Spurs, with his potential switch to Manchester United dominating the off season narrative for the Lilywhites last summer.
Obviously that didn’t end up happening and he stuck around and put in another solid season of service to Mauricio Pochettino’s side, but now the rumours are cropping up again.
Yes, he’s 30 years of age now, but you’re not going to get a better centre half for £25million, so it would be a big surprise if someone didn’t swoop in and sign him in the next 48 hours or so.
TiF Tactics – Can Spurs survive without Alderweireld?
You’ve got to worry about Alderweireld leaving if you’re a Tottenham supporter, because he’s been such a big player for them over the past few years. Pochettino has a few different centre halves, but Alderweireld might be the most reliable of them all.
The statistics would certainly appear to support that fact. The big Belgian is a quality operator who would make any team better, so it’s strange that Spurs would even consider letting him go.
Clearly, from what you can see above, Alderweireld was the pick of the Spurs centre backs last time out. As per WhoScored.com, he more often than not led his fellow central defenders in the majority of major defensive statistical categories last season.
The former Atletico Madrid man committed the fewest fouls per game, while he was dribbled past least often, as well. Alderweireld also averaged the most clearances and blocks per game, although he did make the fewest tackles and interceptions per Premier League outing.
Obviously, the veteran is a fantastic centre half, but when you consider his age, and the fact that Spurs have two young guns in Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth ready to take his place, you’d think that Tottenham can probably survive without him moving forward.