Matthijs de Ligt

[popstar7]

The latest chat is that Toby is trying to re-commit to the club, so maybe he'd actually play his bollocks off to convince Poch and Levy to keep him.

I think Toby/his agent might have overplayed their hand a bit. He wasn't able to play his way back into the first XI after four months out and we did fine without him. The summer auction doesn't seem to have materialised other than United's interest and he may be thinking he'll get a better deal at a new club as a £25m 30-year-old than a £55m 29-year-old.

In any case, are we going to use him as part of a back three next season or continue with two CBs? Sanchez is the future and isn't going to be dropped. Jan has been outstanding and doesn't deserve to be dropped. Foyth is waiting in the wings. If I was MP I'd be inclined to let him move on for the right price after agitating for a move even if he's having second thoughts now.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

get the deal done this year, keep alderweireld for another year, next year de ligt joins and let alderweireld go?

 

[McArchibald]

Isn’t that just code for you’ll need to bump your offer up!

Could be, but they are already flushed with cash from bumper sales over the previous years. I'm inclined to think they really mean what they say.

The player might end up forcing their hand though... He seems to have a very mature head on his shoulders.

 

[Lighty64]

Maybe we should just leave this then and maybe get him next summer or after as a Vertonghen replacement?

I keep seeing this, but other than having inverted wingers, Poch likes the players to have their strongest foot on the side they play, and de Ligt is right footed. to be honest the only time our defence has ever looked balanced when Jan has been injured was when Wimmer was here in his 1st season

 

[Hazelton]

I think this all depends on the result of the World Cup. If Toby has an amazing tournament, possibly even winning it considering the strength of Belgium's squad, then suddenly his value/reputation increases and teams start to sniff around a bit more seriously. Then we have to decide if we want to keep him or cash in and sign de Ligt. If he doesn't do well, his value remains the same and I think he probably stays. It's a massive benefit that de Ligt won't be at the World Cup, since his value will pretty much stay the same and other teams may well be tempted by a standout defender at the tournament instead.

 

[cider spurs]

I think this all depends on the result of the World Cup. If Toby has an amazing tournament, possibly even winning it considering the strength of Belgium's squad, then suddenly his value/reputation increases and teams start to sniff around a bit more seriously. Then we have to decide if we want to keep him or cash in and sign de Ligt. If he doesn't do well, his value remains the same and I think he probably stays. It's a massive benefit that de Ligt won't be at the World Cup, since his value will pretty much stay the same and other teams may well be tempted by a standout defender at the tournament instead.

So on that basis...Toby has a blinding World Cup, value rises and more teams keen on him.

de Ligt price stays the same as a result of no World Cup.

Problem..

We might get more teams interested in Toby, which in turn increases probability of leaving.

What happens when, as reported, Ajax insist on a sale and loan back for de Ligt.

 

[Hazelton]

So on that basis...Toby has a blinding World Cup, value rises and more teams keen on him.

de Ligt price stays the same as a result of no World Cup.

Problem..

We might get more teams interested in Toby, which in turn increases probability of leaving.

What happens when, as reported, Ajax insist on a sale and loan back for de Ligt.

Cross that bridge when or if it comes to it, I guess. I can't see us agreeing to loan him back if Toby leaves, so either sweeten the pot or include Foyth on loan. We'll see what happens.

 

[Flashspur]

I’d rather keep Toby. This lad doesn’t push my buttons and 50m quid for an 18 year old that lacks genuine pace is a fucking joke. I would rather have the Newcastle captain if it came down to losing the Belgian.

 

[Univarn]

I’d rather keep Toby. This lad doesn’t push my buttons and 50m quid for an 18 year old that lacks genuine pace is a fucking joke. I would rather have the Newcastle captain.

You on some wind up supermarket sweep or something? Hitting every thread with an angry drunken rant...

 

[Flashspur]

Perfectly sober champ. I think he is a waste of money. Sorry it differs with your opinion.

 

[spursfan77]

Can’t see anything happening on this for a while if he comes to us. We will want the toby situation sorted first, which also seems to be determining the Martial deal.

Man City will probably swoop in then.

 

[Lilbaz]

...assuming that the team around De Ligt in 5-10 years time is as good as the team we have around Toby now though! It's not an easy, no-brainer decision, but I'd probably take the bird in the hand now rather than the two in the bush later.

You'd rather a handjob than two shags? Each to their own i guess.

 

[BuckeyeSpurs11]

Truth re Ajax terms

Bummer - there is 0 chance we do that

 

[thinktank]

Truth re Ajax terms

That's that then.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

That's that then.

They might shift on that, or they’re terms designed to give them more leverage in demanding more money

 

[thinktank]

They might shift on that, or they’re terms designed to give them more leverage in demanding more money

I'd say that's exactly what they're up to.

Can't see us going to the silly figure they likely have in mind though.

 

[ButchCassidy]

They might shift on that, or they’re terms designed to give them more leverage in demanding more money

Feels to me like the kind of thing a club says when they want to force the player to agitate for a move publicly so they can keep the fans onside when selling him (or if he isn’t willing to do that I’m sure they’d be happy to keep him too). Their mgmt has taken some stick recently from the fans for letting talent like Sanchez go too easily. I guess we’ll see...

 

[goughie1966]

Ajax are probably stringing this out to see how much we get for Toby and then look for us to dump all that in their bank to get this fella. Bastards!

 

[Snarfalicious]

Ajax are probably stringing this out to see how much we get for Toby and then look for us to dump all that in their bank to get this fella. Bastards!

"Player swap deals never happen," etc., but Marcus Edwards would make a lot of sense to go to Ajax in a potential deal. In my opinion, he needs a new challenge, Ajax would be able to give him the match minutes in a more forgiving league and they are likely going to lose a couple of WFs this summer.

 

[dtxspurs]

Not interested in going above 50 mil, give me Lenglet and lets call it a day. He's a class CB.