Toby Alderweireld says Tottenham need to take the “next step” by winning silverware.
The Belgian was heavily linked with a move away from the club over the summer, with Manchester United mooted as his most likely destination.
He ended up staying but his contract situation remains an issue. Alderweireld’s current deal expires at the end of the season, but Spurs can trigger a one-year extension.
However, that will put in place a £25 million release clause than can be triggered in the final two weeks of next summer’s transfer window.
After losing his place in the side last season, Alderweireld has been a regular this term.
The 29-year-old was rested against West Ham on Wednesday, meaning he will almost certainly start in Tottenham’s trip to Wolves in the Premier League this weekend.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Alderweireld talked up the importance of striving to improve.
“It is even more positive that they do not see it as a good start for Spurs,” he said.
“That is the kind of level we have reached. We are never satisfied, we always try to improve, win every game and try to take that last step that everybody is talking about.
“It is not easy, we work hard, but it does not come by night. There is a lot of work that goes into it, but we try to develop our game and be better every time.”
Alderweireld went on to suggest Spurs must now take the final step towards winning a trophy.
He said: “We are doing everything we can to get, I think every team is doing this. You do not overestimate the performance we did in the last couple of years.
“If you do every point from the last four years, then we will be up there. So it is not one season we played well and then bad, no for a couple of seasons now we play on a high level.
“And the next step is silverware and we are doing the best we can to achieve that.
“We try to play good football – it is not easy, but we try and we can improve a lot more and we do the best we can.”
Alderweireld certainly doesn’t sound like a man who desperately wants to leave the club, but we all know anything can happen in football.