Tottenham Hotspur put a condition in Toby Alderweireld’s contract so that his £25m release clause wouldn’t apply to Arsenal, according to claims on social media.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 15: Arnor Sigurdsson of Iceland is challenged by Toby Alderweireld of Belgium during the UEFA Nations League A group two match between Belgium and Iceland at King Baudouin Stadium on November 15, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – NOVEMBER 15: Arnor Sigurdsson of Iceland is challenged by Toby Alderweireld of Belgium during the UEFA Nations League A group two match between Belgium and Iceland at King Baudouin Stadium on November 15, 2018, in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

On Friday morning, Tottenham confirmed that they’d activated an option to extend Alderweireld’s contract until 2020. His deal was previously set to expire in 2019, but Spurs had an option to add an extra year, whether the defender wanted them to or not.

However, that additional year comes with a release clause of £25m. Considering how highly rated the centre-back is around Europe, you’d imagine a number of clubs will be queueing up to pay the fee this summer.

Not Arsenal though. According to @AFCAMDEN on Twitter, the release clause specifically excludes the Gunners from activating it. Clearly, Tottenham are scared of a repeat of the Sol Campbell situation, losing their star defender to watch him win the trophies he never could at White Hart Lane.

It’s a shame, considering Arsenal could use another defender. They’ll just have to look elsewhere, whilst Alderweireld likely ends up with fellow Belgians Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini at Manchester United. Mauricio Pochettino will probably follow him there too, but we’ll have to wait and see.