Exclusive: Robinson reveals real reason Alderweireld is being frozen out at Spurs

Paul Robinson has claimed the real reason Toby Alderweireld is being frozen out at Tottenham is because Jose Mourinho has already given up on a top-four finish.

The ex-Spurs keeper, speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, claimed that the Portugese is already planning for next season and that is why Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez are the first choice central defensive pair.

Jose Mourinho named an unchanged back four from the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld again watched on from the bench as Spurs kept their first clean sheet in 10 games.

Robinson believes Mourinho has found his preferred partnership in the heart of defence - Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier.

"It would appear that is what he wants to go with," he told Football Insider.

"He has had a fully fit squad to choose from and he has left Vertonghen and Alderweireld on the bench for both games and Alderweireld is the best defender at the club.

"Sanchez and Eric Dier is a pairing he is giving time to ahead of next season.

"Mourinho has been brought in to build a winning team and squad and he needs to be given time to do that.

"Fourth-place is out of the question for them so he is building towards next season which will come very quickly.

"It is clear that Sanchez and Dier are his preferred two."

Despite taking four points from their first two games of the Premier League's return, Spurs have fallen further behind in the race for Champions League qualification.

Two wins from two for Chelsea and Wolves leave Spurs nine points off fourth place with seven games to play.

In other Tottenham news, it can be REVEALED that club have pulled the plug on signing 25-year-old after big development.

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