Tottenham are confident they will agree a new contract with Toby Alderweireld long before a potential £25m release clause can be triggered, The Telegraph say.
A report from the ‘Football Leaks’ website stating that there is a £25m release clause in Alderweireld’s Spurs contract prompted a denial from the club.
The Telegraph believe the clause will only become active in the summer of 2019 if Tottenham take up a one-year option on his current deal to extend it to 2020.
Alderweireld’s contract also reportedly states that any move away from the club would have to be completed at least 14 days before that summer’s transfer window closes.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino played down the situation.
“I don’t know the details of his contract,” said Pochettino.
“But not one player has a buy-out clause, I have never heard that in England. It’s a detail I really don’t know.”
Alderweireld has been out since 15 October with a knee injury but will return to the Tottenham squad for Wednesday’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow and could be in contention for the league match against Manchester United on Sunday.
“Toby will be involved in the squad,” said Pochettino. “I’m happy and he’s recovering well. It’s important for him to be involved.
“Maybe will be on the bench, it’s important for him to recover that feeling.
“He’s one of the best central defenders in the Premier League. He showed last season his quality by the way he behaved on the pitch.”