Ah, the old Jose Mourinho factor has come into play here.
After months, no, years, of stalling, Toby Alderweireld has finally signed a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur.
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The Belgian center back, 30, has agreed a new three-year extension to his current deal, which was due to expire in the summer, and it is believed he is now being paid over $130,000 per week. Per reports, Mourinho played a big factor in convincing Chairman Daniel Levy to offer the deal to the experienced Belgium international.
Aldwereireld had a year left on his previous deal after a clause was triggered which extended his stay at Spurs but also meant he would be available for a knockdown $35 million in the summer window.
In the end nobody bought Alderweireld and he remained at Spurs, and now he will remain a little longer.
🗣️ "I couldn't be happier. I'm honoured to play at this Club."@AlderweireldTob on what it means to extend his future at Spurs.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 20, 2019
#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/i5YYYmxdOV
This is a huge relief for Tottenham, as Alderweireld has consistently been their best central defender since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2015.
His former teammate at Germania Beerschot and Ajax, Jan Vertonghen, is set to see his contract expire in the summer but seeing Toby re-sign may now give him a nudge in the same direction.
The only other ‘contract rebel’ left at Spurs would then be Christian Eriksen, who has struggled badly for form this season and out of the three players who’s contracts were running out he always seemed the most likely to leave.
Alderweireld is steady and underrated but Mourinho has obviously already seen just how important he is to this Spurs team.
