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Toby Alderweireld a key to Tottenham’s title pursuit

By Zac Wassink

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur warm up prior to kickoff during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur warm up prior to kickoff during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur need to keep defender Toby Alderweireld signed and happy if Spurs are to again chase the Premier League title.

Passionate supporters of Tottenham Hotspur who post on social media platforms and also message forums haven’t been able to ignore Spurs have been rather quiet since the conclusion of the 2016-17 campaign. While clubs such as Everton and Liverpool have improved their squads, on paper, and Manchester United are reportedly chasing the best player in the world, Tottenham are seemingly happy to let things play out before dipping figurative toes into the transfer market this summer.

On the surface, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy electing to not spend early and often seems logical. After all, Tottenham have earned Champions League football each of the past two seasons, and the club could’ve won the Premier League title this past spring if not for a historically-good Chelsea side. Add in that Tottenham’s starting XI is young and still intact thanks to Kyle Walker not yet forcing a move away from Spurs, and one can’t blame Levy for being a spectator at this point of the offseason.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the Lilywhites as spring turns to summer, though, and not just because of Walker’s uncertain future. Defender Toby Alderweireld is reportedly still awaiting a contract offer from Spurs that suits him, and speculation regarding Alderweireld being wooed by a top-tier club has some Tottenham fans wondering if it’s possible he could be convinced to make a bolt for greener pastures before September.

As Joe Patrick of Cartilage Free Captain explained earlier this month, Alderweireld has been nothing short of a revelation playing underneath Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Alderweireld did well to acclimate to Pochettino’s 3-4-3 formation, he asserted himself as a reliable and steady on-the-pitch general and, in the process, became one-half of the best defensive duo in the league playing alongside Jan Vertonghen.

Those who would question Alderweireld’s importance to Spurs need only look back to October 2016 when he was downed by a leg injury. That setback kept him sidelined from October 15 through the first week of December, and Spurs dropped costly points over that period. Tottenham drew away to Bournemouth and they failed to defeat Leicester City at a time when the Foxes were spiraling toward the bottom of the table, two regrettable results considering how close Spurs were to catching Chelsea during the final month of the season.

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Alderweireld turns 29 years old next March, meaning Spurs should have him during the peak of his playing powers. While last year’s injury incident was unfortunate, the hope is that it will prove to be nothing more than a one-off forgotten about, in time. Add in that there are no existing rumors about him being unsettled at Tottenham, and there should be little question about where he’ll be enjoying his football come August.

In theory, any and all takes about where Alderweireld could land if he and Tottenham don’t agree to terms on a new contract between now and September are for naught. After all, he is signed through 2020, meaning Levy and company could tell him he has to “earn” what will likely be the final contract of his Tottenham tenure before Spurs loosen the purse strings.

That mode of thinking is well and good when dealing with an edition of Football Manager or FIFA, but things get more murky when tasked with handling real people in real-life situations. Playing home games at Wembley Stadium and away from the friendly confines of White Hart Lane will be difficult enough for Tottenham next stadium. Having any discontent in the dressing room should be avoided at all costs.

Yes, Levy absolutely needs to bolster the Tottenham squad to prepare the club for Champions League fixtures and trophy pursuits, but it is more important Spurs keep their own happy and dedicated to the cause. It’s understandable Levy, who has a reputation for being a shrewd negotiator known for getting the absolute best deals possible for the club, would exercise patience in dealing with Alderweireld, but patience is only a virtue so much.

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“Defense wins championships” is an adage familiar to American sports fans, but it also rings true for world football. Speak with Juventus if you doubt this for whatever reasons. Keeping the trio of Alderweireld, Vertonghen and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris together for the next several years is vital for a Tottenham side looking to do more than hassle the biggest clubs in England.

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