Release clause of Tobby Alderweireld's contract timed out on 25th July. Despite interest of some clubs no one wanted to pay 25 million for this world class central back. Big majority of Spurs fans are well aware how important this player is for back line. A lot of them including myself were happy when clause timed out hoping that club will act immediately offering Belgian international new deal with bigger salary. However it just did not happen so far. At the matter of fact something more sinister is going on. New articles in Italia claim that Roma did not abandon interests in him and that they still want to sign player. Articles in Italy are saying that Roma's personnel are in London wanting to exploit fact that he is in last year of contract. They play on thing that Levy won't like to lose this player for free next year. Italians hope to get him for lower price!

Poch was nervous on question about Tobby's state pointing journalist to other personal of club to update him about that. It is obvious how vital in football is to have good defense. Losing such player who is main pole in back line would be disaster for Spurs. Present alternatives at that position like Sanchez or Foyth are just not good enough to replace him at the moment. It was crystal clear last season. I am not saying they will not be able to replace him in couple of seasons, or that they should not play some games, but they are just not so good as Belgian international at least at the moment. In case of selling him I doubt Spurs will be able to find better replacement. That will make hole in defense which was not top notch at the moment because of not so good full backs. Hole in the middle would put Hugo Lloris in front of big wind storm, where even superb as he is he would not be able to save Spurs from conceding a lot of goals. Tobby is irreplaceable at the moment and they must offer him new deal. If it needs bigger wage even double they should give him. I am ready to borrow him my pencil for signing it if it is problem. :)

After this has been done, Spurs should try to close gaps which are full backs. Problem is I don't see Tottenham interest in full backs in this transfer window so far. That is for big concern. In very demanding diamond formation that Spurs are playing having great world class full backs is very important. In my opinion Spurs went out of tittle race last year because Rose and Trippier were out of form for far to long. Now Trippier, who I called "Hydrogen bomb" due his blunders and ball giveaway (like against Manchester United) or bizarre own goals (like against Chelsea), has gone, but no one came on his position. That makes Aurier, Foyth or KWP as main options there. They are nice, but they are not world class, not material for attacking the title next season. On other side Rose is still here because no one wanted him. That speaks about his quality too. He failed to find another club and he is still at Spurs only because of that fact. Other options like Davies and Skipp are not better than him, they are I would dare to say bellow average slow and without big experience. There is option to put Vertongen on left back (like against Dortmund when he impressed), but he is in serious age and it might be to exhausting for him. There is another problem with that, because Spurs will need new central defender to replace him. Interest in Fulham's left full back is nice, but is he really material for winning title ? I don't think so. He might be add on for future, but not for attack on title next season.

I don't understand big fantasies about Paulo Dybala when Spurs have football grand master and the best finisher in league H. Kane and super hero Lucas, Son and emerging starlet Parrot. What will we do push Lucas on the bench and put Dybala in squad ? After super hero hat trick against Ajax ? Guy is great player. Dybala is also great player, but we have Lucas. Spurs might need one striker ready to sit on the bench for cases when H.Kane can't play. That is not Dybala.

Last days of transfer window are in front of Mr. Levy it is last moment to do some things like:

  1. Sign new deal with Tobby Alderweireld
  2. Find world class left back
  3. Find world class right back

Without that title race has been over before it even began.