I think there are some opinions that are off here.
First, the idea that we are better off keeping Toby for another year and losing him for nothing than losing him for 25 million pounds now. This is probably wrong. Toby is a very good CB, and I hate to lose him, but I'm not sure he's worth a 25 million pounds (plus wages) one year loan. Especially given we have Sanchez, who is certainly not at Toby's level yet but at least can step in and do a job.
In fact, if it were really the case that Toby is worth paying an extra 25 million pounds for a one year loan, we would have just met his contract demands. We'd get him for several years for probably the same total price.
Toby staying for another year and then leaving for nothing is the worst case scenario.
Second, if he does stay for next year without a new contract, I don't see how that means he's not our starting CB. He's been nothing but professional. And he has all the incentive in the world to play at a high level since he's trying to impress teams so he'll get as big a contract as possible at the end of the season.
Third, just because Toby isn't already off doesn't mean he's made a mistake. It's quite possible that teams have come in for him and he has just refused because he thinks he'll get higher wages if he runs his contract out completely, saving whatever team he goes to 25 million pounds. Now if he has a bad season or gets a career ending injury or something, then yes, this will have turned out badly for him. That's why running your contract down is a gamble. But we are yet to see whether this gamble pays off for him or not. He's still a high quality CB who is not THAT old. I have to think somebody will pay him very good wages at the end of the season barring a bad season/bad injury.
Unfortunately for Spurs, this is playing out very poorly for us. I guess there's still faint hope we sign him to a contract extension, but it seems pretty unlikely.
You stand alone sir in talking sense on this matter.
Some posters are simply dim.