Toby Alderweireld's future at Spurs should be resolved fairly soon with his release clause set to expire later this month.
The Belgian international's contract was actually set to run out this summer but the club ensured that didn't happen back in January by exercising an option in his deal to extend it by a further season.
However, that in turn activated a clause in the defender's contract that allows him to leave for only £25million before the final two weeks of the transfer window.
The window once again closes ahead of the Premier League season and clubs have until Thursday, August 8 to complete any business.
That means there is just two weeks left for interested clubs to activate Alderweireld's release clause and sign him at a knockdown price.
Serie A side Roma are believed to be keen on luring the player to the Italian capital but the latest reports suggest they will actually make their move after his clause expires.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Giallorossi will launch a €12m move given that his contract is now in the final year and he will turn 31 next March.
Joachim Andersen was tipped as the man to come in and replace Alderweireld at Spurs but the Champions League finalists will now have to look elsewhere with the Sampdoria ace closing in a move to Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Spurs currently have Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth as options to play at the back, while Mauricio Pochettino needs to make a decision over Cameron Carter-Vickers' future after returning to the club in the summer following two years on loan in the Championship.
Ben Davies is also another option available to the manager, although he probably is better on the left of a three-man defence if he needs to move into the middle from his usual full-back role.
Well, another possibility Pochettino could explore is by dropping Eric Dier back into defence.
The England international started off his Spurs career in defence but moved further forward following the acquisition of Alderweireld in 2015.
Dier's role in midfield also saw him drop back alongside Vertonghen and Alderweireld when needed, thus allowing Spurs to get the best of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose as attacking options down the flanks.
The 25-year-old has been utilised as a midfielder in recent seasons but has filled in in defence when needed, as was the case on the final day of last season against Everton due to injuries and suspensions.
Dier's versatility has been key since his arrival at the club and will continue to be over the coming years at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The problem for the player is now where exactly he fits in in midfield following the arrival of Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon in a club record £63m move.
Injuries and illness limited the player to only 14 appearances from the start of December onwards as Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks became the club's first-choice pairing in the middle of the park.
There's also Victor Wanyama to throw into the equation after a torrid time through injury over the past two campaigns.
Pochettino is expected to be busy in the transfer market over the next four weeks and a new midfielder could well be on the agenda.
Real Madrid's Dani Ceballos has been linked with a move to Spurs due to limited opportunities at the Santiago Bernabeu since his move from Real Betis, although any move away from the Spanish capital will more than likely be a temporary move rather than on a permanent deal.
The potential addition of the Spaniard would push Dier further down the midfield pecking order and his best chance of playing for Spurs may well come in defence if indeed Alderweireld does move on in the coming weeks.
The Belgian international's release clause does give Spurs two weeks to bring in a replacement but that could prove problematic in trying to sign a new defender with the season edging ever closer.
Pushing Dier back into defence on a permanent basis would save the club a lot of money in the transfer market and it could well turn out to be the best option for Pochettino and the player going forward.
The player really needs a big year after his struggles last campaign and that may mean he needs to move position to play regularly under the manager next season.
