Toby Alderweireld’s move to Qatari side Al-Duhail looks as though it is edging towards completion after the veteran defender was spotted in the Middle East.
Alderweireld, 32, had his future up in the air approaching this summer's transfer window, but new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has deemed the Belgian to be surplus to requirements in N17.
Antwerp had an approach turned down earlier in the summer over a deal that would have seen Alderweireld return to his hometown, where he played football as a child before joining Ajax’s youth set-up.
The club are continuing their overhaul of central defence after Juan Foyth already left the club to complete a permanent move to Villarreal in a deal worth £13million.
Alderweireld looks set to join the Argentine in leaving the club for a similar price.
His move has all but been confirmed after an image of him wearing his new club’s colours in Qatar emerged on Twitter.
Although the Belgian has been a Spurs player since 2015, the deal suits both parties.
As one of the highest earners at Tottenham, getting his salary off the club’s wage bill will give Fabio Paratici more manoeuvrability in some of his transfer dealings. Meanwhile, Alderweireld gets to enjoy a new experience as well as earn more money towards the end of his playing career.
Spurs have also already identified his replacement in Argentine centre-back, Cristian Romero .
The 23-year-old, named Serie A Defender of the Year last season, is halfway through a two-year loan from Juventus with an option to make his move permanent for for 16million euros (£13.8m) - a deal negotiated with Paratici during his final season in Turin.
However, as first revealed by football.london , Tottenham have been in advanced negotiations with Atalanta over the defender and could make a move for him in the near future.
The club have also held talks with Sevilla over the possibility of signing Jules Kounde .
The 22-year-old France international's first choice is believed to be a move to Real Madrid, but with the La Liga giants struggling financially, that is unlikely to be an option at this moment, and the player is understood to have an interest in Tottenham should that be the case.
