Mourinho after an £18m Vest

TOTTENHAM have stepped up their bid to sign Southampton’s defensive linchpin Jannik Vestergaard.

Jose Mourinho has prioritised the centre of his defence as an area to be strengthened this summer.

A move for Denmark’s Vestergaard,

28, has been fast-tracked after another defensive collapse at Newcastle on Sunday.

Vestergaard (inset) has a year left on his contract at St Mary’s

■ and would cost around £18m.

Mourinho’s longterm defensive target is Inter Milan centreback Milan Skriniar. Tottenham tried to land the 26-year- old in January but talks broke down – and Spurs will go back in for the £25m-rated Slovakian.

Mourinho is also keen on midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, 27, who is leaving RB Leipzig this summer.