Tottenham line up £45million wonderkid defender Matthijs de Ligt to replace Toby Alderweireld
Current Spurs defender is a target for Chelsea and is expected to leave in the summer
TOTTENHAM are lining up a £45million swoop for Dutch teen sensation Matthijs de Ligt.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino sees the Ajax centre-back, 18, as the long-term replacement for Chelsea target Toby Alderweireld, who is set to quit the North Londoners this summer.
De Ligt is the hottest young defensive prospect in European football.
Despite his tender years, he has already played more than 50 times for the Amsterdam giants.
He won his fifth cap for the Netherlands senior team in last month’s 1-0 friendly defeat at home to England.
Arsenal and Barcelona scouts have both watched De Ligt in action in recent months – although SunSport understands Barca’s interest has now cooled.
The Gunners are still keen but it appears their North London rivals are now the front-runners to land the youngster, who saw his pal Davinson Sanchez leave Ajax for Spurs for £42m last summer.
The Spurs squad also includes former Ajax favourites Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen so De Ligt would have no problems settling in should he join.
ABSOLUTELY FAB-ULOUS Swansea 0 Chelsea 1: Cesc Fabregas curls home beautiful left-footed winner
Sanchez’s fine start to his Premier League career has led to Alderweireld – regarded by many as the best central defender in the division – being frozen out by Pochettino.
The Belgian defender looks certain to be sold by Spurs this summer after failing to agree a new contract with the club.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked with a move for the 28-year-old.
Tottenham have been scouring Europe for a new defender.
Swansea’s Alfie Mawson and Harry Maguire of Leicester have been linked with Spurs.
But Pochettino is not convinced by either and instead has turned his attention to De Ligt.
How to win £1MILLION with Sun Six
SUN SIX is the new predictor game where you can win £1million - just by correctly picking the results of six games.
Here is how to get your mitts on the million:
- Make your picks - predict the scores from these six games
- Enter your details - quickly sign up to Sun Bets so we can contact you
- Score £1m - Watch the scores roll in and you can win £1m
Top pundits IAN WRIGHT and DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM have made their picks for this week if you need a steer.
And remember, you can claim a free £30 bet with Sun Bets when you sign up put a tenner on this weekend's football .