Tottenham confirmed that they would be taking up an option to extend Toby Alderweireld’s by one season, but have also activated a release clause of £25million, according to ESPN.

The report further adds that Spurs are resigned to losing the Belgian in the summer, with Manchester United and Barcelona being interested in the 29-year-old in the previous transfer window.

Alderweireld is one of the best defenders in the league and the report claims he is reluctant to discuss a new deal with the club.

Contract negotiations aside, Alderweireld has been a model professional and some of his best performances for the side have come this season.

Tottenham lie just six points behind the Premier League leaders Liverpool, and there is more than a chance of us chasing them down. We play Manchester City and the Reds later on in the season, and it will be interesting to see how things develop with Toby in the summer.

The Belgian has also been the fittest central defender for Tottenham this season, and he would be a major loss in the coming years.

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Alderweireld also formed a great partnership alongside Jan Vertonghen, and he could have been a Tottenham star for a few more years with Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez developing well this season.