That suggestion has got louder in recent weeks, and on Tuesday Tottenham fans have received worrying news in the Times. In December, there were reports in the English and Belgian media that Alderweireld had a contract clause that would allow him to leave Spurs for 25 million pounds. Since then, Spurs fans have been encouraged by claims that Alderweireld is close to signing a new deal at the club, which will eliminate this clause, which is only valid in 2019. But today the Times have thrown a major spanner in the works, claiming Alderweireld will only sign a new deal on one condition.

Alderweireld will only agree to stay at Spurs if he has a way to leave to Lillywhites too. The Times tell their readers: Toby Alderweireld has insisted on the inclusion of a release clause if he is to sign a new deal at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham have the option to extend Alderweireld’s deal by a further season beyond 2019, but should they do so, he has the right to insert a €30 million (£25.3 million) release clause that can be activated from that year. Tottenham have so far rejected his demands for such a clause, resulting in a contract dispute with one of their most important players over the past two seasons.

Another factor clearly playing on Alderweireld’s mind is money. He’s currently on £53,000 a week at Spurs, while he’d want a significant increase in his salary in any new deal. At the same time as Spurs fans worry about Alderweireld, who is linked to Man City in the Times, reports on Monday claimed that Kyle Walker has told Tottenham he wants to leave the club. Man City have also been linked with the Spurs and England right-back.