Jose Mourinho has three pressing questions to answer at Tottenham
Three Tottenham stars have the ability to negotiate free transfers in January. Jose Mourinho must resolve each player’s future immediately.
Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Tottenham has given Spurs two wins in quick succession. The Portuguese manager’s next task is to sort out some pressing contract issues in North London. Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen all have the ability to leave the club via free transfers at the end of the current campaign.
The good news for Mourinho and Spurs fans is that two of the three players seem very interested in extending their stay at Tottenham. According to Football London, both Alderweireld and Vertonghen are quite settled in London and are, at the very least, open to signing new deals with the club. The immediate future of Eriksen is much more uncertain.
Of the trio, Alderweireld seems to be the most likely player to sign a new deal in the coming days. He’s been very open when speaking of his admiration for Mourinho’s resume over the past week. He’s also received two starts in central defence since The Special One’s arrival. All signs point to him receiving a solid contract offer from the club in the very near future. If that happens, look for him to extend his stay with Spurs.
Vertonghen’s status is more difficult to discern since he’s just returning from injury. He made the bench against Olympiacos but has yet to feature in a game under Mourinho. The venerable Belgian will want a clear understanding of his status in the starting XI before he commits to more years at Spurs. Given how shaky the back line looked on Tuesday evening, it’s very possible that Mourinho wants to stick him right back into a partnership with Alderweireld. He also could be set to play in a back three alongside his countryman and Davinson Sanchez. Add it all up and it seems more likely than not, that Vertonghen will get a new contract as well.
Eriksen’s situation is much more grim. Mourinho has made a point not to start him in either of the fixtures he’s provided over at Tottenham. That’s a clear signal that he won’t be a focal point of the team unless he agrees to a new deal. To date, that pressure hasn’t influenced the Dane in the slightest. He’s rejected Spurs’ latest offer even though it’s reportedly very close to his asking price. The most likely outcome is that he’ll be sold off at a discount price in January.
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The key for Mourinho will be to make sure that none of these three former Ajax stars heads into January with uncertainty swirling around them. Even if all three leave, it’s imperative for Spurs to know where they’re heading under their new manager. Mourinho’s decision on these three players will likely define his immediate future at Tottenham.