Tottenham would have to pay club-record £48million for Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt
Dutch defender De Ligt is also wanted by Manchester United and says he may be open to a move
TOTTENHAM would have to pay a club-record £48million for Matthijs de Ligt.
Mauricio Pochettino is lining up Ajax’s Dutch star, 18, to replace Toby Alderweireld next season.
But he will have to break the bank to land the highly-rated defender, who is also wanted by Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Asked about his future, De Ligt said: “Am I ready for a different experience? Maybe, yes. I don’t know.”
If Spurs fail to land him they could move for Newcastle skipper and former England Under-21 star Jamaal Lascelles, 24.
De Ligt, who turns 19 this summer, was developed through the famous Ajax academy.
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He has represented the Dutch national team at all levels, making his first-team debut in March last year in a defeat to Bulgaria.
De Ligt did, in fact, feature at Spurs' temporary home last season, playing a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to England at Wembley.
Belgian centre-half Alderweireld, 29, is wanted by Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG, who are all willing to pay £40m for him.
He featured only 21 times last season for Pochettino's team as his future at the club grew more uncertain.
