Destiny Udogie’s new long-term deal with Tottenham was not done in a hurry before the change in the law to avoid FFP, but to get a “great prospect” in place and protect his transfer value, says Paul Robinson.
The Italian signed a “bumper” contract extension until 2030, which includes a “significant pay rise”, on 12 December [Evening Standard] after the 21-year-old proved to be a key man for Ange Postecolgou during that period, and the news came just hours before the vote to limit the amortisation of transfer fee payments to five years [Sky Sports].
But former England goalkeeper Robinson believes the move was a real reward for the young defender outperforming his previous contract, rather than anything to do with financial pressures.
He told Tottenham News exclusively: “Tottenham were obviously aware that the legislation was going to change and they accepted it ahead of schedule.
“A lot of the clubs we’ve seen using six-, seven-, eight-year contracts have done it as part of avoiding financial fairness by spreading the payments over a number of years, which doesn’t put a strain on you in the short term.
“In the case of Tottenham and Udogi’s contract, I don’t see a problem. I think it’s probably more about keeping a young player at a football club for a longer period of time. I don’t know, but I suspect that his wages are not at the level of the highest earners in the team.
“That’s why I don’t think FFP was an option at Tottenham. I think it was really about rewarding a very, very good young player and a great prospect that the club has and who has already shown that he can play at the highest level and incidentally this season at international level.
“Simply to keep him at the club and to increase his value further down the line, should anyone be looking for him.”
The Italy international, who stayed on loan for an extra season at Udinese before joining Tottenham along with Postecoglou this summer, has quickly established himself as an important member of the squad.
His status rose so quickly that a new contract was probably inevitable in case another club came in with a favourable offer and tried to turn him upside down.
Any possibility of the club spreading their spending on him over extra years was probably a slight bonus reason for it to happen before the league vote, but not the main motive behind him being at Chelsea in recent seasons.
Having become such a key part of the Spurs set up however it is therefore all the more important that Udogie makes sure he is available as much as possible, with the left-back already suspended for the second time this term amid extensive pressures on the selector’s squad due to injuries already.