PSG to join auction for Tottenham defender
Paris St-germain are ready to rival Manchester United and Barcelona for Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld.
The central defender’s Spurs future is in doubt as the club have yet to agree a new contract with the Belgian after talks stalled. His current deal contains a one-year extension option, which is scheduled to activate in the summer of 2019 and would see him contracted to 2020.
But it also features a £25million release clause that could be activated in the summer of 2019, as long as a transfer is completed at least 14 days before the end of the window.
That means Tottenham may have to listen to bids in the region of £40million for the 29-year-old at the end of this season, which has alerted a host of clubs.
United and Barcelona have been following Alderweireld’s situation for some time, particularly after Manchester City seemingly dropped out of the race by signing Aymeric Laporte. Chelsea are also monitoring events, but PSG could provide United and Barcelona with the sternest competition.
The Ligue 1 club look set to change their manager this summer and are ready to back the new man with a healthy transfer budget.
One area PSG know needs strengthening is the centre of defence and Alderweireld would suit their needs perfectly without them needing to break the bank.
Tottenham would prefer to not strengthen a Premier League rival, while it remains to be seen how strong Barcelona’s interest in Alderweireld is. The prospect of three clubs bidding for Alderweireld will please chairman Daniel Levy, as an auction would help to push his price up.
Meanwhile, Alderweireld’s Spurs and Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen has admitted Tottenham have an FA Cup advantage with the semi-finals and final being staged at Wembley. Spurs have been drawn to play Manchester United in the last four at their temporary Wembley home. “It definitely helps us because we have played well there,” Vertonghen said.