Tottenham and central midfielder are ready to strike a deal that will please Ange Postecoglou, while a remarkable new claim has emerged about the Australian’s popularity at the club.
Spurs confirmed on Tuesday that left-back Destiny Udogie had put pen to paper over a new and improved contract. The Italy international has received a handy pay rise and is now under contract in north London until 2030.
The 21-year-old has been a revelation this season and scored his first goal for Spurs on Sunday afternoon as they demolished Newcastle 4-1.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Udogie is not the only successful Tottenham star in line for a new contract.
Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, the trusted journalist revealed that Tottenham “want to continue” with more extensions.
Next in their search is centre-forward Pape Matar Sarr, who has established himself as a regular alongside Yves Bissouma this term.
Next in their sights is centre-forward Pape Matar Sarr, who has established himself as a regular alongside Yves Bissouma during this period.
Twenty-one-year-old Sarr, along with the equally active Bissouma, formed a devastating midfield. When James Maddison was healthy in the early months of the season, the trio worked well together and helped Tottenham to the top of the table.
According to Roman, Sarr agreed to talks about extending his stay in the capital. His current contract does not expire until 2026, but Spurs believe the time is right to protect their investment and secure their future.
Sarr “ready to talk about a new contract” – Romano
“Yes, the new signing of Udogie will be in excess of €2 million net per season, so a new salary, a longer contract until 2030, so everything is being done with Udogie, this was revealed on Monday and then confirmed by the club,” Romano said.
“Tottenham wants to continue with these contract extensions. The other player they want to offer a contract to is Pape Matar Sarr, who is always very good in the middle of the park.
“A very talented centre forward who joined the club almost two years ago and is now ready to discuss a new contract. So there will be some talks with other players as well.”
Sarr cost just £14.6 million in 2021 when he signed for French side Metz, before add-ons. He spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Metz, but hardly featured for Tottenham the following year.
However, the arrival of Postecoglou breathed new life into his stalled career with Spurs and he is now a key link in the Australian engine room.
Postecoglou’s popularity at Tottenham is very high
Romano went on to point out that Postecoglou is almost universally popular in the Tottenham dressing room.
This is not a small thing in modern times. A look at Manchester United and the problems Erik ten Hag has with Jadon Sancho shows how difficult it is in 2023 to manage a team with a lot of egos.
Romano continued: ‘For Udogie, the important thing was the salary, the length of the [previous] contract was really very good for Tottenham, 2027.
“But they wanted to make sure that the salary was good enough, and now other players will also talk about new contracts at Tottenham, where, frankly, all the players, almost all the players are very happy with Anzhet.”
Sarr appears to be next in line for a new contract, although Spurs will have to do without their central midfielder for up to a month in the New Year.
The Senegalese will be absent to represent his country at the African Cup of Nations. Bissouma (Mali) will also be missing as the tournament runs from 13 January to 11 February.
Captain Son Heung-min will also be absent as he will be celebrating with South Korea at the Asian Cup. This competition runs roughly parallel to the AFCON – from 12 January to 10 February.