Danny Mills is amazed Manchester United and Arsenal have not been trying to complete a cut-price deal for Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld.
Mills, the former England defender, was speaking the day before Alderweireld’s £25million release clause expires, with any transfer becoming much more unlikely after 5pm on Thursday.
The 30-year-old remains one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and any club that signed him for just £25million would be completing one of the deals of the summer.
However, there has not been any real interest in Alderweireld this summer, with Man United preferring to target Harry Maguire, the 26-year-old Leicester and England defender, and Arsenal nearing a deal for Saint-Etienne’s William Saliba.
Roma have been attempting to sign Alderweireld, admittedly, though the player said earlier this week he expects to still be a Tottenham player when the new Premier League season starts on August 9.
And Mills is astonished the Belgium international remains on Spurs’ books given he could have been signed for such a low fee.
Speaking to Football Insider, Mills said: “Let’s say he plays another three seasons, that’s around £8million-a-year.
“People are paying loan fees of £8million-a-year, he’s a ready-made player.
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“It’s an absolute bargain.
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“How Manchester United are not coming and banging down the door, how Arsenal are not banging down the door and saying we want this player, I have no idea.
“£25million for a ready-made centre half who is going to get you through the next three seasons and bring on other players around them, it’s a no-brainer for me.
“People will say you’re going to lose money, yeah you are but you’re going to do that if you bring loan players for me.”
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Jose Mourinho hoped to sign Alderweireld last summer while he was Manchester United manager, though the Old Trafford club’s interest has waned over the past year.
The Red Devils are instead pursuing a deal for Maguire, though they’ll have to pay around £80million to prise him away from the King Power Stadium.