Tottenham expect that Manchester United will make a deadline day bid for Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld according to ESPN (h/t Metro).
The 29-year-old has been a United target for almost the entire summer, according to the report. The Metro even claims that Tottenham want a fee of £75million for the defender but United are not willing to meet that valuation.
ESPN claims that Tottenham will be offered a replacement by United for Alderweireld in the deal to take the Belgian to Old Trafford.
Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are the two players that Spurs can choose, the report claims. Jose Mourinho is willing to sell Rojo and is unsure about Smalling’s long-term future at the club.
The Metro further adds that Alderweireld would be available next summer for a fee of £25m due to a clause in his contract. However, the player does not want to wait for a year before making his switch while Mauricio Pochettino does not want to be left thin in the centre-back department this season.
While Smalling and Rojo are decent players, they aren’t on the same level as Alderweireld and further, if we do get one of them, Pochettino would have to ensure they are up to the mark. It would be better if we keep Alderweireld and then think about a transfer in January.
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We should not be looking to bring in players that don’t fit our system and if we can convince Alderweireld that sticking at Tottenham would be the best for him, we could see the Belgian put up more impressive performances for us this season.
