According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are resigned to losing their Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld to Manchester United next summer. The same source has revealed that the Red Devils are closing in on a £26m deal but will face stiff competition from Juventus and Barcelona in pursuit of the Spurs centre-back.
The 30-year-old has been an integral member of Mauricio Pochettino’s backline and has formed a formidable partnership with Jan Vetonghen at the heart of the Tottenham defence. He has put in some commanding displays at the back for Spurs during this campaign.
At 30, Alderweireld is currently playing at his peak which the Mancunian outfit could look to benefit from over the next few years. The former Ajax defensive ace has featured in 38 matches for the North London giants this term and has made an average of 1.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game so far in all competitions (Stats taken from Whoscored.com).
He is widely regarded as one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League so it would be a massive coup for Man United if they manage to acquire his services at the end of this campaign.
When playing with confidence, the Belgian international can be one of the most effective defenders in European football as he remains calm under pressure and can read the game well. He is also a terrific tackler and can make crucial interceptions for his team.
The potential acquisition of Alderweireld will undoubtedly bolster Man United’s defensive options at the Theatre of Dreams. Ole Gunnar Solkjaer has currently got the likes of Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones vying for a place in the Red Devils first-team. The Belgian would be an upgrade over any of them and could also help the Mancunian outfit bridge the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of English football.
There is no doubt that Alderwiereld will be a shrewd acquisition for the Old Trafford outfit and at £26m, he could be the best bargain buy of this upcoming summer transfer period. Hence, Ed Woodward should do everything in his power to land the Belgian international ahead of the new season.
