The developing situation with Athletico Madrid is something Saints could well do without as they try to sort out the central defensive situation.

Saints do not want the central defensive saga with Athletico Madrid to drag on and on, they need to sort out the position fast with the first game in the Europa League only three weeks away.

In simple terms it seems Saints claim that Athletico failed to buy out Saints right to purchase Toby Alderweireld whilst Madrid seem intent on selling him to Tottenham because they have put in the highest bid.

But it isn't as simple as that ! there are several complex issues.

Did Athletico fail to invoke the buy out clause, does Toby Alderweireld want to sign for Saints and what will UEFA say about it.

Athletico's position seems to be that they will sell to the highest bidder and that they are confident that they will receive a paltry fine and/or compensation payment to Saints that will mean they are still quids in on the deal, Saints position seems to be that they can get the player for £6.8 million why pay more.

That being the case surely the simple answer would be for both Athletico & Saints to sit down and agree a compromise, I don't think we would be overpaying if a middle ground was reached taking into account what we would have received from the buy out clause, if we paid £9 million for Toby that would be a more than fair price.

But Athletico do not want to go down that route, they seem to have cash in their eyes and cash only.

I would hope that UEFA would step in quickly and deal with the situation, they should first place a ban on any transfer taking place until they reach their verdict, that will not be good for all three parties involved, especially Athletico who need the money to buy elsewhere and could lead them to back down.

One thing though, Tottenham Hotspur do not seem to be to blame in this situation, all they are doing is trying to buy a player that they want, in that respect as much as it pains me to say, I cannot place any blame to them.

Photo: Action Images

helpineedsomebody added 09:15 - Jul 6 nick nobody can break the law weather in spain or england a legal contract is binding both partys sign it this should be left to the legal people & not brought into the papers
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pintsizedsaint added 09:16 - Jul 6 Reports this morning suggest TA is having medical today, at Spurs which implies they have agreed personal terms. AM clearly not bothered about any legal nonsense if true. If this is true, then does this saga really matter? TA wants to join Spurs so that is that. Can't help feeling Saints could have done better here. I get a sense we thought just doing nothing and pointing to a clause in the contract would have sorted it. It didn't. Still, AM are without doubt a scumbag of a club. I hope we never do business with them again.

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montecristo added 09:16 - Jul 6 No one has seen the contract in question. My query is that british comentators ignore the fact that it wil have been drafted under spanish law, which in common with other latin countries is based on the observance of legal principles the relevant one here being good faith. Atletico are in big trouble if they go ahead with thedeal to Spurs they could face a transfer ban. The same applies to Spurs if Saints are able to get FIFA to intervene and block any transfer pending an arbitrary decision. Im sure Saints know what they are doing they will have lawyers working on this, I await developments with baited breath...

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saintmark1976 added 09:49 - Jul 6 Sorry but I can not see that all this talk about contracts is relevant.Football has become immune from any suggestion of honouring your word which is why contracts exist in the first place.Quite simply money talks as is witnessed by the number of players who are transferred before their contracts end and for that matter managers also. I expect that Toby will sign for the club that pays him and his agent the most.Regretfully if it is a toss up between ourselves and Spurs then we all know that there will only be one outcome.

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DPeps added 09:55 - Jul 6 Unfortunately this seems like an act of desperation from Saints. As others have said, why not trump Spurs bid and then sort out this contractual business after, citing the fact that we can sign for less? I can only assume that this is coming out so late in the day because AM want to sell to Spurs and Toby wants to go there, and neither think the clause is a problem
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ExiledSupporter added 10:55 - Jul 6 Like others above I have an uneasy feeling here that we have complacently delayed acting on this and Spurs have stolen a march on us. Why have we appeared so passive over the last four or so days when Spurs intentions were plastered all over the press...was Reed having a siesta all that time...DPeps first comments are right on target. If we are so much in the right over possessing the first option (after the deadline date for Athletico compensating us has passed - maybe it hasn't - ) then why didn't we just go straight to them and do the deal rather than just watch Spurs take a free run at it while we sat on our hands in apparent silence.

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DPeps added 11:26 - Jul 6 The only hope is that we're doing all our business behind closed doors, and the only reason this hasn't been in the press before is because we're not leaking it. Unlike Man Utd and Spurs, of course, who can't sneeze without leaking it and the press lapping it up
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IWOZTHERE added 11:55 - Jul 6 This should have been 'nailed on' weeks ago! It's always possible that Toby wants Spurs or it's still possible we'll get him but if we lose out because Saints have been 'dawdling' around complacently over this, then it's a disgrace. You know what pro-active means Les ?
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A1079 added 12:57 - Jul 6 I am sorry, but I think we have messed up here and we are now clutching at straws. Though clearly I do not know, but it does not look like we have ever put in a serious bid for Alderweireld, hoping we could get him cheap and then waiting to see what would happen.
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 13:18 - Jul 6 In response to the comments above; why would Saints make an offer for Toby when Atletico hadn't paid the fee to break the original contract? Of course Southampton would wait until the money came in from Atletico before doing anything, because if Atletico didn't pay, which they haven't, then Saints can contractually buy him at the original agreed price. Atletico have messed this one up big time, if the stories are true, and Toby will be signing for Saints as long as he agrees terms with us. That might be the sticking point because Spurs have probably offered him a better deal than we will be willing to offer.

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simmo400 added 13:22 - Jul 6 Previous post is spot on. Toby will sign for the most cash every month who wouldn't ?
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Jesus_02 added 14:44 - Jul 6 REEDYREEDOREEDZ is spot on here, seems saints have been out played by Levi here. I dont think Spurs would have offered Toby much more but I imagine he just wants things sorted out. Really we should have already have agreed terms in principle ages ago. If Athelico have breached terms of the deal then they have also given Spurs permission to speak with Toby when they shouldnt have. However they have and spurs have agreed terms. A legal dispute is only going to slow things down for Toby, something he doesnt want so the easiet and most likely outcome is for AM to grant permission and Toby will refuse to agree with saints. Where does that leave saints...With a legal despute that amounts to AM making an error in allowing Spurs to discuss terms. What is that worth to Saints. Sweet FA.. Maybe an apology

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Jesus_02 added 14:46 - Jul 6 Oh BTW the deal that Spurs have agreed is being reported as somewhere between 10m and 12.5 . If we cant afford that for a proven commited CB when we are selling Lovren for 20m then we are in a bit of a spin? Its all soccernomics!!!!!
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BoondockSaint added 14:55 - Jul 6 Wow! Must be a lot of new people leaving comments! Welcome to the site! Apparently you are new to football and are unaware of it's player transfer rules: There are none. Money, and money only, talks. FIFA and it's fiefdoms like UEFA exist only to collect bribes. Sorry to disillusion you, but believe me, I'm saving you years of heartbreak.
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sidsaint added 15:04 - Jul 6 Toby is a class player. Levi knew it and was quick off the mark once the transfer window opened and flew to Madrid. Les is going tomorrow we are told, sorry Les the horse has bolted we end up with egg on our face through our unprofessional approach and the chief financial office has resigned as well. I for one am gutted and I imagine RK is none too pleased.
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pintsizedsaint added 15:39 - Jul 6 OK, 2 reasons to remain cheerful on this: - Apparently Spurs and AM can agree fees , and TA can agree terms, as much as they like, but a legal challenge could actually block the official registration of TA as a Spurs player until and unless things are sorted. - Many so called 'neutral' media sites have said that its a done deal and it will be confirmed today. Its 3.37pm and nothing has been officially announced as of yet...

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TimSaint added 16:26 - Jul 6 I think this press talk is jumping the gun a little. Toby himself has just got married, is not due back at training for AM until Wednesday and he himself was alleged to have said only last week, that he would like his future sorted out by 12th July. There will surely be a few more twists and turns on this, as it develops, but I am waiting for the official announcements.

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SanMarco added 17:50 - Jul 6 If Toby signs for Spurs then that will be the end of it whatever the 'law' says. Alright Saints might get a bit of 'compensation' but the damage will have been done and a court is not going to send the player from one club to another. I agree wih those who are surprised that we couldn't be competitive on this bid. If we do lose out it will be a big blow to supporter morale...

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aceofthebase added 18:24 - Jul 6 I'm so naive but for Spurs to pursue TA when they know that legally he is not available is worthy of a massive fine.
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Jasper added 20:27 - Jul 6 Tottenham have pursued this with the full knowledge there would be issues, restrictions and clauses. They are not blameless but shameless and arrogant. They want to be like us this proves they never will.
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montecristo added 07:39 - Jul 7 Interesting posts all of them but most are wide of the mark .Spurs and ATLETICO could find themselves in a heap of trouble with FIFA if what we are told is correct. Toby is our player, and there is nothing legally that Spurs and Atletico can do about it it might take time but I expect Toby back at St ;Marys.Reed, interetingly , has gone out to Spain, we are told , and it can only mean he is seeking a compromise solution rather than opt for the legal route which could be somewhat acrimonious, better just to offer Atletico an extra two million or something, egos all round are satisfied, except of course those at White Hart lane but we are not going to lose any sleep about that are we??

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ExiledSupporter added 10:56 - Jul 7 What Saints should have already done is a)to slap an injunction in the British courts on Spurs and Athletico to prevent them concluding any transfer until the legal wrangle between Saints and Athletico is resolved b) sought the early involvement of UEFA or even FiFA (pass the brown envelope please) to freeze all dealings until they can arbitrate and c) threaten Athletico with a major legal action if they do sell Toby to Spurs. All they seem to have done is the last one which is going about it all in the wrong order. Horses, stables and bolts all come to mind!

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SaintBrock added 11:09 - Jul 7 We are not being told the truth. There are only two issues involved; does the player want to play for Saints; do we really want him? All the rest is puff and bluff. The legal stuff is a distraction and can be ignored as nobody in football respects so-called legally binding agreements. If latest PRs are to be believed then clearly Toby ain't that much bothered about coming back here and if Spurs have placed a higher bid than us then clearly we're not that bothered about him coming back anyway. Hard to swallow but we've lost him so time to move on. Would you take legal action to keep your partner in an unhappy marriage against their will?

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