Tottenham to trigger clause in Alderweireld's contract to extend it until 2020

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed the club will activate a year-long extension option in Toby Alderweireld’s contract to keep him at the club until 2020.

Alderweireld’s current deal expires at the end of this season.

By triggering the extension, Spurs will activate a clause which makes the Belgian centre-half available for a cut-price £25million for a two-week window in the summer.

“Yes for sure,” said Pochettino, when asked if the club would extend his contract. “It’s obvious, the same situation as Jan.”

Earlier this month, Tottenham took an option to extend Jan Vertonghen’s contract for one more year.

Alderweireld is back in Pochettino’s team after a season disrupted by injury.

He was expected to leave last summer, with Jose Mourinho keen to sign him for Manchester United, but no serious bids materialised.

At 29, Alderweireld appears settled again at Spurs as they compete for the Premier League title.

“We are in a very good position,” said Pochettino. “A position we deserve to be in, but it is another to be a real contender at the end of the season. We need to show we can be consistent during a whole season.

“Man City showed this in the past because won the last Premier League. Liverpool made a big investment and are doing well at the top of the table.

“These two teams have more realistic thinking at the end of the season that going to be contenders.

“We need to show ourselves and everyone we can be real contenders. We are there because we have the belief. We are working hard. We have the quality. But still we are a question mark.”