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Chelsea have joined the chase for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld.

The deposed champions are ready to move in for their London rivals' contract rebel centre-back, who has been left out of the side by boss Mauricio Pochettino despite being fit.

Regardless of whether Antonio Conte remains in the manager's hot-seat beyond this season, Chelsea want to overhaul the playing squad following their poor defence of the title they won in the Italian's debt campaign.

Although the Blues are into an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton next month, they face a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit fifth, five points adrift of fourth-placed Spurs with eight games to go.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Reuters)

The futures of a number of players in the squad are in the balance, including central defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill, plus keeper Thibaut Courtois and winger Eden Hazard — both international team-mates of Alderweireld.

Along with the Belgium international, Chelsea are also tracking other players with expiring contracts, including Arsenal’s Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, after landing Everton playmaker Ross Barkley for a cut-price £15million in January.

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Alderweireld has two years left on his current deal and Spurs do not want to give in to his demands for a new one worth £150,000-a-week — a similar amount to fellow defender Virgil van Dijk’s salary at Liverpool following his January move from Southampton.

For the past two seasons, Alderweireld has helped Spurs to have the best defence in the Premier League. This campaign though, with him often out of the side, they have slipped to third in the rankings.

The 29-year-old has now joined up with Belgium, who play a friendly against fellow World Cup qualifiers Saudi Arabia next Tuesday, having been left out for Tottenham’s last six games.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

He hasn't played for the north Londoners since their 2-2 FA Cup draw away to third-tier Rochdale on February 18.

Manchester United and big spending French champions-elect Paris Saint-Germain are already keen on Alderweireld, whose current deal includes a one-year extension option, scheduled to activate in the summer of 2019.

But the contract also has a £25m release clause that could be activated in that same period — although any transfer at that price would have to be completed at least 14 days before the end of the window.