Mousa Dembele Says Contract Talks with Spurs Are on Hold Until After World Cup

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has said he will not discuss a new contract with the club until after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Belgium international has been one of the key men in Mauricio Pochettino's side in recent years and has drawn plenty of praise for his displays this term. 

Dembele's deal with Spurs is set to run out at the end of next season, but he told La Dernier Heure (h/t Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph) there will be no talk over an extension for a while yet:

"If we talk about a new contract in the middle of the season, it will cost energy. Imagine that a player feels not appreciated after a disappointing proposal, it can disrupt his game.

"At this moment, I am very happy at Tottenham. I do not lie when I say that I do not think about a big transfer. I want to play a World Cup and afterwards we will see.

"Really, I'm not aware of the interest of other clubs. And, besides, I told my agent to wait for the summer to tell me about any offers. For now, I'm only focussing on Tottenham. Maybe this is my last season. Or maybe I'll sign a new deal. We'll see."

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Dembele has endured fitness issues in recent seasons, but the 30-year-old has been able to feature in 23 Premier League games for Spurs in the 2017-18 campaign, including 17 starts.

When he does get on the field, he's often imperious. Dembele is blessed with the physicality to muscle it out with the most brutish of midfielders, although he also has the grace and technical ability to take control of a game.

After a memorable performance from the midfielder in the recent 2-2 draw with Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, Pochettino heaped praise on the former Fulham man:

Although he contributes little in the final third—Dembele doesn't have a single goal or assist in the top flight this season—Spurs function much more effectively when he's in the team.

At this stage of his career, the player will have to have his minutes managed given his struggles with injuries, but that doesn't mean Tottenham would be willing to let him go without a fight. 

As noted by Dean Jones, while Dembele has been lauded recently, he has been a crucial part of his side for a long time:

Dembele doesn't sound like a man in a hurry to leave Tottenham any time soon, nor do there appear to be any sides incessant in their attempts to take him away from the capital club. Still, should his deal remain unsigned after the World Cup, some concerns will begin to creep into the fanbase.

The former AZ Alkmaar man isn't a player Pochettino will be able to build his team around for years to come, but if Tottenham are going to win silverware in this campaign or in the next couple of seasons, then Dembele will surely be central to them doing so.