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Tottenham haven’t offered Toby Alderweireld new deal for one simple reason

By Rucker Haringey

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur at John Smith's Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur at John Smith's Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham do want Toby Alderweireld to ink a new deal

There’s a great deal of panic amongst the Tottenham fan base over the fact that Spurs haven’t offered Toby Alderweireld a new contract as of yet. The reason for the club’s delay is startlingly simple and it’s nothing for anyone to be concerned about.

The talented Belgian defender told Sky that he’s happy at Tottenham, but that he’s still waiting for the club to offer him a new contract. Critics of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy point to this as another example of his fiscal conservatism hurting the club.

The reality is the club have a very solid reason for holding off on offering a new contract to their starting centre back. They simply don’t have a firm idea of what sort of wage structure he’d accept. You’ll notice that none of the “reporting” on Alderweireld’s contract status ever include what sort of compensation he’s seeking.

Certainly the club know more than the press, but it still seems pretty obvious that Alderweireld’s camp haven’t communicated directly with Levy. His “advisor” has enjoyed speaking to the press about how his client could make significantly more money elsewhere. That is certainly true. He isn’t going to make upwards of £200 thousand per week at Tottenham like he could at Manchester City.

It makes sense for his representation to use that sort of figure as their opening request though. Their job is to get Alderweireld the most money possible. By starting negotiations in the upper stratosphere, they hope they can draw Levy out of his usual Tottenham wage structure.

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Clearly they are underestimating the Spurs transfer boss. Levy isn’t going to get a central defender nearing 30 years of age shatter the wage structure he’s so painstakingly constructed. There are only two players who can extend the upper-limits of the club’s pay scale: Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Alderweireld may be as valuable to Mauricio Pochettino on the pitch, but he doesn’t hold the same cache on the transfer market.

It’s highly probable that Alderweireld’s camp realizes this. That’s why they are waiting to see what Kane and Alli might do before really pushing for a new contract offer for their own client. For example, if Kane gets a new deal at £150 thousand per week, then Alderweireld might be able to get £125 thousand. Similarly, if Kane continues on at £100 thousand per week, then Alderweireld might be capped out at £90 thousand per week.

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The moral of the story here is that Alderweireld and his camp are being intentionally patient. They don’t want to communicate their contract demands until they know what’s possible. Tottenham will be happy to offer them a new deal once they’re given a clear understanding of what it will take to get an agreement done. There’s nothing for Spurs fans to worry about here. Alderweireld will ink a new deal in due time.

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