Mousa Dembele has poured doubt over his future at Tottenham Hotspur by telling Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure that he will not hold contract talks until after the World Cup, reports The Telegraph.
What’s the word?
The midfielder’s current deal does not expire until the end of next season, but most of the time, clubs do not like key players to enter the final year of their deals.
Dembele has had some injury problems, particularly in the first half of the season, but when fit, the 30-year-old has been an integral member of the midfield.
According to The Telegraph, the Belgian has spoken openly about the situation and suggests that he will not discuss fresh terms until after the World Cup in Russia.
During an interview with La Derniere Heure, Dembele admitted that he is happy at Tottenham, where he has played since his 2012 move from Fulham.
“We have not really talked about an extension of my contract.At the beginning of the season, I said ‘I had physical problems, I want to see at the end of the season how I feel’. That’s what the club and I decided by mutual agreement.
“If we talk about a new contract in the middle of the season, it will cost energy. Imagine that a player feels not appreciated after a disappointing proposal, it can disrupt his game. At this moment, I am very happy at Tottenham. I do not lie when I say that I do not think about a big transfer. I want to play a World Cup and afterwards we will see.
“Really, I’m not aware of the interest of other clubs. And, besides, I told my agent to wait for the summer to tell me about any offers. For now, I’m only focussing on Tottenham. Maybe this is my last season. Or maybe I’ll sign a new deal. We’ll see.”
What do Tottenham need to do?
Even though Dembele will be on the wrong side of 30 next season, he still has the energy to do a crucial job for manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The club should not allow the midfielder to enter the final year of his contract as they risk losing him at the end of the season for nothing.
In addition, it creates a sense of uncertainty, much like what has been happening at Tottenham’s arch rivals Arsenal due to the high number of players whose contracts expire this summer.
Dembele’s quotes suggests that he is open to considering his options, which is dangerous for the North London outfit.
The midfielder’s public admission could spark interest from a handful of other clubs, who may try to turn the player’s head in the coming weeks.
One thing is for sure, though, plenty of Tottenham fans will be disappointed given that the majority have been singing Dembele’s praises throughout the season.
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