Pochettino’s banishing of Tottenham world-class star should be no surprise

With three more games of the Premier League season left to play, Tottenham Hotspur fans will have one eye on the summer transfer market and already be thinking about next term.

There will inevitably be comings and goings over the summer, with a number of Spurs players tipped to depart.

While most Tottenham supporters would love nothing more than to see Toby Alderweireld sign a new contract at the club, the likelihood of this happening appears to diminish week-by-week.

The Belgian centre-half is one of the best defenders on the planet and has been a key element to the club’s progression in recent seasons.

However, with Alderweireld clearly not willing to accept Tottenham’s contract offer and able to make more money elsewhere, it looks inevitable that he will be sold in the summer.

Pochettino has overlooked the Belgian in recent months despite the enforcer returning to full fitness and instead paired Davinson Sanchez with Jan Vertonghen at the back.

The banishing of Alderweireld to the Spurs bench should not come as a surprise to the Tottenham fans and is a clear indication that the defender will be sold in the summer.

Pochettino adopted the same treatment with Kyle Walker at the end of last season after it became clear that the right-back had his eye on the exit door.

Danny Rose has also fallen down the pecking order and it appears likely he will be offloaded in the summer.

Although harrowing, it is time for Tottenham supporters to come to terms with the fact that Alderweireld is being sold – Pochettino’s similar treatment of Walker is a damning indictment.

Hopefully Spurs sell the Belgian to a foreign club, not a domestic rival, and reinvest the money to bring in another international-calibre centre-half before next season.