Why Tottenham Should Do Everything Within Their Powers To Keep Alderweireld
Tottenham Hotspur have a tough time ahead of them this summer. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Hugo Lloris, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker have all been linked with an exit and one player who is now unsettled at the club is the in-form defender Toby Alderweireld.
The 28-year defender has formed a great centre-back partnership with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen at the back for Pochettino’s side for a few seasons now but reports suggest that he has rejected signing a couple of new deals at the club.
He is contracted with the London club until 2020 but is wanted by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer. So Pochettino is looking to get him to sign a new deal but reports suggest that he is demanding a weekly wage of £110,000-a-week on his new deal. Here is why the Spurs should do everything they can to keep him at the club and cave in for his wage demands.
Here is why the Spurs hierarchy should do everything they can to keep him at the club and cave in for his wage demands.
At 28, Alderweireld, who has more than 60 senior appearances for the national side, is one of the most experienced defenders in the Premier League. In his two years at the White Hart Lane, he has made 62 appearances so far and has cemented himself as the first choice, in the most miserly defence since the start of the previous season.
He has a successful pass percentage of 83% and has played 5 key passes, creating 5 chances from the back. He has also won 29 tackles all season, winning close to 53% of his ariel duels 52% of his total duels this season. With 18 interceptions, 22 blocks and 148 clearances, he has been one of the most effective defenders in England this season. His errors have led to just one goal this season, he is hardly shaky at the back.
Tottenham are currently the most consistent side in the top flight of English football and have collected more points than any other team since the start of 2016. However, they are falling just short of success in most competitions and need some additions to take the next step.
Pochettino has built a core squad at the club which can stay and help them for the years to come, and hence losing Alderweireld will be a huge blow. At his age, the Belgian is in his prime as a footballer and is arguably one of the best in the league. He will surely attract interests not just from the Etihad but also from other clubs if he quits and Spurs just cannot afford to let that happen.
In the current inflated market, the wage should not even be up for discussion. Alderweireld and his experience probably deserve more than what he is currently asking for and if Daniel Levy is not ready to give into the defender’s demands, he may well see his club fall into a state of transition for yet another year.
Losing Alderweireld can also have a dominoes effect that might see more first- team stars looking elsewhere, creating more problems at the White Hart Lane. He currently earns just £50,000 a week and though it is a significant improvement, Tottenham need to do everything they can, to keep him at the club for the long term.
Stats were taken from Squawka.com
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