Tottenham are going to win the battle against Manchester United by getting their asking price for Toby Alderweireld, but will Spurs lose the Premier League war?
Spurs fans can take some measure of comfort in the reality that Manchester United are being forced to pay a fortune for Toby Alderweireld. However, this represents another example of Tottenham strengthening a Premier League rival. Mauricio Pochettino’s club unquestionably won the transfer battle, but they may lose the war with United on the pitch.
Various reports claim Jose Mourinho’s club will be forced to pay nearly £80 million for the talented Belgian. From a financial perspective, this is an obvious victory for Daniel Levy. Alderweireld could have been available for just £25 million next season due to a release clause in his contract. To extract such a premium for a 29-year-old defender coming off an injury-plagued season is pretty impressive.
On the other hand, it doesn’t seem that Tottenham had to sell Alderweireld. The club just handed Harry Kane one of the biggest contracts in the Premier League. It seems that Spurs could have found a contract compromise with Alderweireld if they were properly motivated. Instead, they’re in effect, selling out, by allowing the defender to move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United are close to agreeing a €79.8million transfer for Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld and could be tied up in the coming days. [Het Laatste] #THFC pic.twitter.com/pAbZG9DiJQ
— Lilywhite Spurs (@Lilywhite_Spurs) June 10, 2018
The real evaluation of this transfer from Tottenham’s perspective will have to come at the end of the window. On the surface, parting with Alderweireld weakens Spurs’ chances to win a Premier League title next season. Getting a hefty influx of cash is nice, but it won’t help Pochettino’s squad on the pitch.
That is, unless it’s reinvested wisely. Spurs fans will rightly expect to see every penny of transfer sales be spent on purchases this summer. Levy clearly made a decision to back Pochettino when he handed the gaffer a bumper new contract. Part of that equation is handing big contracts to new players. Part of it will be bringing in recruits Pochettino wants in the summer.
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The minute the Alderweireld deal becomes official it will formally put Tottenham on the transfer clock. The club must turn the proceeds from his sale into a better player (or players) before the summer window slams shut. Anything else will be a complete and utter failure by Daniel Levy and the higher-ups at the club.