Tottenham will spend big to replace Alderweireld
Much to the chagrin of Tottenham fans around the globe, it appears that Toby Alderweireld will be leaving Spurs this summer. Fortunately, the club appear poised to spend big on his replacements. Both of the players Tottenham are eyeing up as potential replacements would cost Tottenham a hefty transfer fee.
English sources allege that Mauricio Pochettino and company have identified Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles and Ajax centre back Matthijs de Ligt as primary summer targets. Neither is as accomplished as Alderweireld is at this point in his career, but both are very talented prospects in their own right. You can be sure that Newcastle and Ajax will both be keen to hold on to their defensive stars.
It’s hard to imagine either defender moving to North London for less than £40 million. The real question is which player is the better potential replacement for Alderweireld.
Lascelles has the advantage of experience. He’s already a proven commodity in the Premier League. The young Englishman is enjoying a terrific campaign for Rafa Benitez this season. Moving to Tottenham would require him adjusting to life under Pochettino, but he would not need time to learn the tendencies of Premier League attackers. At 24 years of age he strikes a fine balance between untapped potential and physical maturity.
In sharp contrast, purchasing de Ligt would be a much more speculative purchase. Yes, Tottenham’s last defensive purchase from Ajax worked out pretty well. De Ligt isn’t nearly as physically mature as Davinson Sanchez was when he moved to Spurs this summer though. He is more skilled with the ball than his former Colombian teammate, but he’d need an adjustment period to find his feet in the Premier League.
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It must be said that de Ligt does appear to have world-class talent. He’s no lock to reach his full potential, but Pochettino will fancy his chances to get the best out of him. Lascelles is a really good Premier League defender, but his ceiling is significantly lower than the young Ajax ace.
Add all this up and it’s a safe bet that it comes down to availability for Tottenham. The club may be armed with a significant transfer budget this summer, but they have other needs to fill. Daniel Levy certainly won’t be pulled into a ridiculous bidding war for a central defender. Remember, the club will still have Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen to serve as starters next year.
At first glance, Lascelles would seem to be the cheaper option. He’s older and as we mentioned, lacks the potential to really become a transcendent star. On the other hand, Newcastle will be very hesitant to ship him to Tottenham. Unless Benitez heads abroad, it’s hard to imagine the Magpies parting with Lascelles.
That brings us back to Ajax. They will charge a huge fee for de Ligt, but their history shows they are willing to sell bright stars for the right price. Last year’s summer move for Sanchez is excellent proof of that. It might cost Spurs upwards of £50 million, but de Ligt can be theirs if they’re willing to pay the requisite fee.
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Losing Alderweireld will hurt plenty of Tottenham fans, but they key to evaluating the move will be to see how Spurs replace him. Buying a talent like Lascelles or de Ligt would be a great answer to a disappointing transfer saga for Pochettino and company.