“In my head I just go to Tottenham” – Positive and negative signs on player remaining at Spurs

The World Cup is finally over and with just a few weeks left of the transfer window, for English clubs, business is going to need to speed up.

Tottenham know they have a situation with Toby Alderweireld, it was evident towards the end of last season and it will soon come to a head. Manchester United, Barcelona and PSG have been the clubs most linked but it doesn’t feel like a move is on the verge of happening.

Barca can likely be ruled out given their signing of Clement Lenglet, and Alderweireld was never really a theme in the Catalan media. Likewise, the Spurs defender isn’t getting a lot of attention in PSG’s closest media yet.

Belgium finishing third at the World Cup has led to a huge party, and after a big event on Sunday, Alderweireld was asked about his future.

Quoted by Gazet van Antwerpen, the player said: “I really don’t know anything yet. In my head I just go to Tottenham. We’ll see.”

That doesn’t sound too bad from the perspective of Spurs fans hoping he’ll stay, but what Alderweireld went on to say showed a clear frustration with what happened towards the end of last season: “I was very focused on this tournament. I wanted to prove something again. Show that the period before the tournament in which I did not play – for whatever reason – that it was unjustified. I wanted to show that I am still the same Toby as in November.

“I was happy that I could still play four or five matches at the World Cup. I immediately had a good feeling. Physically there was no problem, because it was only the first major injury from my career. I spent only three or four months out in my entire career. I have to touch wood, but I cannot complain about that. I’m glad I could come back in this way.”

The Belgian newspaper says there’s a good chance Alderweireld is leaving Tottenham this summer, and they point out his performances in Russia can only encourage interest from other clubs.