Defender Toby Alderweireld could be set for a White Hart Lane departure

The club are becoming increasingly worried Alderweireld may seek out a move

Despite this Spurs remain unwilling to relax their strict wage structure

Tottenham are refusing to relax their stringent wage structure as fears over the future of key defender Toby Alderweireld grow.

The central defender's importance to Mauricio Pochettino's side has been underlined in recent weeks, Spurs registering one Premier League win in four in his absence from a hamstring injury.

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And concerns are growing that Tottenham could be forced to sell Alderweireld this summer with talks over a new deal at deadlock.

Tottenham may be forced to sell Toby Alderweireld after refusing to relax their wage structure

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The former Atletico Madrid defender earns £50,000-per-week - a low amount in relation to players of his quality in the Premier League.

At the age of 28, Alderweireld knows this could be the last big contract of his career and is looking for a deal north of the Tottenham's current £110,000-per-week wage ceiling. As it stands, though, Spurs are unwilling to meet Alderweireld's demands but Tottenham still hope to make a breakthrough before the summer.

The impasse poses a delicate problem for Tottenham going into the coming months.

Alderweireld's current deal expires in the summer of 2019, out of sync with chairman's Daniel Levy usual policy of not allowing players enter the final two years of their contracts.

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The Belgian knows his value to the club and wants a bigger pay deal on his next contract

Tottenham have the option to extend his deal, but a £25m release clause then comes into play

Tottenham do have the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months but triggering it would activate a release clause in Alderweireld's contract allowing him to leave for £25million in the summer transfer window immediately after the clause was activated.

The clause leaves Tottenham facing a huge dilemma over their next move.

Spurs know Alderweireld is worth potentially double £25million meaning activating the year's extension would expose them to accepting a relatively low fee for the centre back.

It is understood Alderweireld is in no rush to sign an extension, perhaps understandable given the strong position he finds himself.

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The defender will not be short of offers if he is made available for transfer, with Manchester City known to be long term admirers.