There is a lot of uncertainty with regards to Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld’s future in North London. The Belgian has been linked with a move away from Spurs in recent months. The 29-year-old has an option of a one-year extension in his current contract with the club which means that his deal is set to run until the summer of 2020. However, there is also a £25m release clause in his contract that will be activated in the summer of 2019 which means that Spurs would need to part ways with him this summer in order to sell the defender on their terms.
Alderweireld has struggled with injuries during the course of this season and has made just 17 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in all competitions. With his future up in smokes, let’s take a look at three potential replacements for Spurs to consider if the Belgian ends up making a switch out of North London in the off-season.
Raphael Varane
The French defender has featured in 33 matches for Los Blancos this season and has two assists to his name. The 24-year-old centre-back has been a rock at the back for the Galacticos in the last few years and has a wealth of experience playing at the top level. At 24, Varane still has his peak years ahead of them which Spurs could look to utilise in the coming years. He has the capability to fill Aldeiweireld’s shoes in North London if Pochettino’s side decides to opt for his services.
Samuel Umtiti
The 24-year-old has put in some solid displays for Barcelona this season and has been instrumental in the club’s success in the La Liga this term. The French ace has made 33 appearances for the Catalans this term across all competitions and has been a regular feature for Ernesto Valverde’s side. He is a ball playing centre-back and will be the perfect replacement for Alderweireld at Spurs but it won’t be easy to prise him away from the Nou Camp.
Phil Jones
The English defender has featured in 21 matches for United this season and has formed a formidable partnership with Chris Smalling at the heart of the Manchester United defence. However, he is currently out injured going into the final stretch of the season. Jones is also highly versatile and can operate in a number of different positions across the backline. He primarily plays as a centre-back but can also be deployed at right-back or as a defensive midfielder which makes him a perfect fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.
