Strengths and Weaknesses of Tottenham's Summer Signing Toby Alderweireld

The signing of Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld became something of a protracted saga before eventually being completed on July 8. 

Despite Southampton's protestations, Spurs got their man and completed renovations to the defence that also included the signing of Kieran Trippier and the sale of Younes Kaboul. 

Last season, Tottenham's central defensive pairing shifted far too often to build up the understanding that is the bedrock of an effective defence. 

Most often, it was Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio, but Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches also played there occasionally. 

So too did Eric Dier, but his versatility saw him utilised as a full-back more often than he played in the centre. 

Injuries and difficulties with form plagued almost all of Spurs' defenders in 2014-15, but those problems have been addressed this summer and there are now two genuine options in every position across the back line. 

Alderweireld seems the likely first-choice partner for Vertonghen and if chemistry was an issue last season, it won't be in the coming campaign. 

The pair have played together for Belgium since 2009 and in the same year combined as Ajax's central defensive pair under former Spurs boss Martin Jol. 

Spurs have lacked a reliable defensive pairing for several years. Arguably not since Ledley King and Younes Kaboul both (somehow) managed to play regularly together in 2011-12 have they possessed such strength at centre-back.  

Alderweireld is poised, possessing calmness in crucial moments. He rarely panics when isolated or exposed, something that is inevitable with Spurs' attacking intent under Mauricio Pochettino.

Where the likes of Kaboul and Chiriches embarrassed themselves in one-on-one situations, Alderweireld can be relied upon to wait patiently for the correct moment to intervene.  

He also has pace which, in combination with his football intelligence, allows him to match it with the best of Premier League attackers on the ground. 

A star for Southampton last season, Alderweireld had something of a lost year in 2013-14 as he failed to break into Atletico Madrid's starting lineup as they won La Liga. 

The partnership of Diego Godin and Miranda was crucial to Atleti's title win, so failing to displace either of them is no disgrace. He also filled in at right-back but there too, Juanfran was an entrenched starter. 

He showed his best form in the Premier League for Southampton as well as his versatility, occasionally filling in midfield. 

A title winner in two countries, Alderweireld should also help instill a winning attitude. 

He arrives at White Hart Lane with the experience of a veteran but, at 26, remains young enough that he can be expected to be around for the long-term. 

Pochettino's team is young and requires leadership. 

The Eredivisie-winning central defensive partnership will radiate confidence and should provide the solid foundation for Spurs' push for the European places. 

Alderweireld is tall enough, although three inches shorter than the gargantuan Fazio, to present a physical barrier to most of the Premier League's bigger forwards. 

Capable, rather than outstanding in the air, the signing of Alderweireld will not entirely solve Spurs' problem with dominant, physical attackers. 

He is somewhat lacking in terms of bulk as Fazio outweighs the Belgian by almost one-and-a-half stone. 

Last season, Wilfried Bony was devastating for Swansea and should have had a hat-trick but was denied more by Spurs' fortune than their design. His combination of power and pace was all too much for Tottenham defenders. 

The addition of Alderweireld will do little to remedy this problem. 

At his best, Alderweireld is strikingly similar to Vertonghen who, when he joined Spurs, was astonishingly good in both attack and defence. 

Both read the game well enough to mostly avoid the necessity of tackling and instead glide in to dispossess their opponent. 

Equally, both bring the ball out with confidence and skill. 

This could present a problem in terms of roles, with both Alderweireld and Vertonghen seeking to drive out of defence with neither being satisfied with sitting back in cover. 

Of course, with their shared history, it is more likely that these similarities will be a strength. 

The rapid transition is a staple of the Ajax academy from which both players graduated. Both are highly adept at kick-starting those counters with a well-placed ball from the back.  

Pochettino is a keen exponent of this style of football and will relish having left- and right-footed options capable of firing accurate long passes. 

Some critics of the signing of Alderweireld suggest that it will curtail the development of Eric Dier. 

Dier's deployment in midfield during Spurs' behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford suggests that Pochettino will not forget about him. 

To neglect Dier's growth as a player would be a major misstep by Pochettino, but playing regularly in central midfield in the Premier League would do the opposite. 

Alderweireld is Spurs' fourth Belgian player after Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli. Having players that know a new signing so well can only help him to adjust quickly and settle in. As so many expensive transfer failures have proven, settling in is vital to a new signing's success.

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Doubtless their presence also helped convince Alderweireld to choose Spurs over a return to St Mary's. 

Tottenham's defence was a significant weakness last season. 

Often not helped by a lack of a proper defensive midfield, Spurs' defenders were repeatedly exposed by even unremarkable opposition attack. 

The arrival of Toby Alderweireld has turned a weakness into a strength. The core of Vertonghen and Alderweireld will provide Spurs with their best defensive partnership in years. It has potential to be the best duo they've had in Premier League history. 

The presence of Alderweireld also frees up one of Spurs' most exciting youngsters, Dier, to potentially fill another key position of need as a defensive midfielder. 

Alderweireld's strengths make Tottenham far stronger while his weaknesses are, at worst, at the level of his predecessors.