PSG may tempt Tottenham to part with Toby Alderweireld

Tottenham don’t want to part with Toby Alderweireld, but the inclusion of Thomas Meunier in the deal could help PSG land the Belgian centre back.

Toby Alderweireld has been a rock in the middle of Mauricio Pochettino’s defence ever since arriving at Tottenham. His future may lie in Paris though. PSG are sending strong signals that they are desperate to acquire the talented Belgian.

Ironically, another Belgian international may play a huge role in bringing Alderweireld to France. Recent reports emanating from the Ligue 1 giants claim that PSG are prepared to send Thomas Meunier to Tottenham to help complete a deal for Alderweireld. The inclusion of the classy right back in the deal may force Pochettino and company to reconsider their stance on selling Alderweireld.

Spurs currently have three right backs in their senior squad, but no one has really seized the spot in Pochettino’s starting XI for their own. Kieran Trippier is great against weak opposition, but his lack of athleticism really stands out against elite Premier League attackers. Serge Aurier has all the physical tools you need to be a quality fullback, but his decision-making can be maddening. Kyle Walker-Peters is electric going forward, but he struggles mightily to defend physical attackers.

Add all that up and it makes right back a position Spurs could look to upgrade. Meunier would absolutely walk into Tottenham’s starting lineup. He really turned heads playing for Belgium in this year’s World Cup and he’s continued his solid play for PSG. A Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.22 in 12 league matches this season illustrates what a quality player he is for his club.

Meunier’s positional versatility will also make him an attractive acquisition for Pochettino. He’s also capable of playing really good football in a midfield role. Tottenham’s struggles to keep the likes of Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama healthy this season make the midfield a pressing issue for Spurs in January.

There’s no question that Tottenham will be interested in acquiring Meunier. He’s exactly the sort of accomplished international the club would like to add in January. The question is whether or not Spurs are willing to part with Alderweireld to make such a deal happen.

That likely hinges on just how far apart Tottenham and Alderweireld are on terms for a contract extension. If Daniel Levy and company feel he is destined to leave via his £25 million release clause next summer then it’s easy to see them pulling the trigger on a move now. If they believe signing Alderweireld to a new deal is a realistic option, they will almost certainly roll the dice on keeping hold of their most accomplished central defender.