Not many football fans had heard of Toby Alderweireld before this season. The defender plied his trade for Ajax before joining Atletico Madrid. It was at Atleti that Alderweireld was a forgotten man. He made only 10 appearances in the Spanish Primera Division, amounting to a meager total of 906 minutes. The Belgian was left on the bench for the Champions League final. Before he entered the pitch, Atletico was up 1-0. However, after he came on, the team lost 4-1. It was with severely reduced expectations that Alderweireld arrived in the Premier League on loan to Southampton. And surprisingly, he has far surpassed them. The center back played a pivotal role in securing a high league position for Southampton. With his outstanding performances, numerous top Premiership clubs have taken notice. Alderweireld already experienced what it is like moving to the wrong club at the wrong time (his switch from Ajax to Atletico). Here we will analyze three clubs who could sign the former Ajax defender and whether he would be the right signing for each of them.
Chelsea
Domestically, Chelsea experienced an exemplary season. They held on to first position for the entire league campaign, dominating the league from start to finish. That said, Chelsea, like every other squad in the world are not perfect. While their midfield and attack can be mesmerizing, the same cannot be said for their defense. Gary Cahill put in some very shaky performances midway through the season as his form dipped considerably. Chelsea were lucky that no other team was strong enough to take advantage of this. Cahill cannot suffer another dip so severely if Chelsea are to win the title next year. Kurt Zouma could be a replacement, however, he has not fully developed yet and is not reliable. Then there is the curious case of John Terry. Somehow he has managed to beat time by playing every Premier League game last season, and playing very well through almost every one of them. As much as it pains Chelsea fans, his decline is looming and will likely occur sooner rather than later. Already at the age of 34, a dip in performances can occur any time now. This is where Alderweireld would come in. At 26 years old, he has matured as a player now unlike Kurt Zouma. His age also means that he has many years of service left to give. Alderweireld is unusually technically gifted for a centre back. He would fit Chelsea’s style, especially when they “park the bus”. The Belgian international has demonstrated his ability to pick out long passes with ease which could create goals out of nothing when Chelsea are stuck defending. His defensive attributes are also impressive which would make Alderweireld a worthwhile signing. Even with his extensive abilities, time cannot be guaranteed at Chelsea. Cahill is very capable of stealing back his place and Mourinho is likely to make a couple more signings before the transfer window slams shut.
Tottenham
Tottenham are a club in need of a defender for some time now. They continue to consistently disappoint season after season. With mercurial Harry Kane bursting to life, Tottenham seemed to be set for top four finish. However, once the initial blaze cooled down, Tottenham regressed back to where they started because of their substandard back line. Younes Kaboul, a centre back, was appointed captain by manager Mauricio Pochettino, only to perform miserable. He looks to be on his way out as Pochettino looks to clear out the dead wood. Another centre back,Vlad Chiriches is also inevitably leaving the club. His skill set clearly did not match one needed for a defender. His offensive style concedes acres of space. He has also been prone to absolute howlers of mistakes this season has his touch is anything but consistent. Quite frankly, any sort of quality centre back would do Tottenham good. But signing Alderweireld would be miraculous. His technical ability far outshines that of the other centre backs, and he has also proven his stableness in defense. Which is something Tottenham have lacked for some time now.
Southampton
Last but not least, is the club that Toby Alderweireld was loaned to in the first place. Since their promotion to the Premier League, Southampton have consistently progressed. Their top 10 finish last season was in helped in large part by Alderweireld himself. Southampton allowed Alderweireld to truly develop into the great defender he is today. He was afforded substantial playing time, and was most importantly trusted by the manager. With the confidence of the entire club. Alderweireld was able to blossom. In my opinion, Alderweireld would be best served by staying at Southampton. Playing time is not most certainly not guaranteed at Chelsea and to a lesser extent at Tottenham. Playing at Southampton would allow the defender to play at a very high level while also receiving guaranteed playing time. Staying under Ronald Koeman would not only be the safest, but best decision to make. He would offer the skillset that he has continued to offer this season, which is consistent defensive displays while adding a sprinkle of technical ingenuity. Southampton will be desperate to hang on to the loanee as well. They do not possess a player quite at the same level as the Belgian who is at the same relatively young age. Alderweireld, should he stay, will continue to be pivotal in improving the promoted club to even greater heights.
