LOW WAGES MAY COST TOTTENHAM

HIS words will be seen as sour grapes after the reversal of fortunes in north London, but Arsene Wenger has a valid point about comparatively low wages at Tottenham eventually having an impact on the club. Harry Kane may be one of their own and happy to earn less than his market worth, but that does not apply to all of Tottenham’s most valuable assets. Sure enough, within days of Wenger’s comments, there have been reports of Toby Alderweireld stalling on a new contract and requesting the insertion of a £25.3million release clause. Manchester City’s interest in Kyle Walker is also said to be reciprocated, with the player upset that Mauricio Pochettino does not think he can play twice in a week. This could become a problem. It is the football that has to keep a player at Tottenham satisfied, because they will be beaten on the money by the majority of rival elite clubs. If Walker (right) is frustrated by the football, City can simply blow Tottenham away on the rest of it. ‘With too much difference, it’s impossible,’ said Wenger. ‘When you get to a level, the best players want to be paid like the others at that level. If the differential is too big, you’re never able to keep them.’ Tottenham are now reaching those heights. Back-to-back Champions League campaigns, back-to-back title challenges. Even finishing above Arsenal is a statement of worth. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is rightly proud of his business skills. He has a reputation for being very smart with money. But that is a two-way street; if he can make it about the deal, so can his players.