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Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a potential £50m summer swoop for Ajax teen sensation Matthijs de Ligt as speculation builds over the future of Toby Alderweireld.

The 18-year-old Netherlands international centre-back has been catching the eye of top clubs around Europe in recent seasons, including Barcelona and Arsenal, but football.london understands that Tottenham are also interested in the teenager, who could cost as much as £50m.

The north London outfit traditionally do their business later in transfer windows, but after that strategy drew some frustrated words from manager Mauricio Pochettino this season, Spurs could look to move for De Ligt early this summer in order to fend off some of their bigger spending rivals and land one of Europe's most highly-rated young talents.

De Ligt has been an ever-present for the Eredivisie giants this season despite his age and became the youngest ever captain in Dutch professional football when he donned the armband for Ajax back in January.

He appeared for his country in last month's friendly defeat against England and then set up two goals as the Dutch overcame Portugal 3-0 days later.

Spurs will face fierce competition for his signature, but the club have a strong relationship with Ajax, signing a number of their players in recent years, including De Ligt's team-mate Davinson Sanchez last summer for a club record fee of £36m.

The 21-year-old Colombian central defender has been a major success since his arrival at the club and has earned rave reviews from manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham have four former Ajax stars in their squad in Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen, Alderweireld and Sanchez and could look to add De Ligt to those numbers.

It may be a case of one in and one out though with talks over a new contract for Alderweireld having come to a standstill. It is believed that Spurs have put an offer of around £130,000 a week on the table for the Belgian, but his representatives are asking for closer to £180,000 a week.

The 29-year-old's current contract runs out next summer, but Spurs have an option to extend it by another year to 2020. However, by doing so they activate a clause that means the Belgian can be sold before the final two weeks of the 2019 summer transfer window if a bid comes in for £25m.

Alderweireld has not played in a Premier League match since October last year, when Spurs lost 1-0 at Manchester United, having struggled with a serious hamstring injury and then a setback to it.

His matches since returning from his injury have shown a player who is understandably rusty and in his absence Sanchez and Vertonghen have formed an impressive partnership.

Spurs have been looking at central defensive options for next summer, should Alderweireld move on. Pochettino has high hopes for young Argentine defender Juan Foyth, who arrived from Estudiantes at the start of this season but the 20-year-old is yet to make his Premier League debut and has thus far had to be content with cup appearances.

Other options looked at have included Swansea's Alfie Mawson, but the 24-year-old could cost as much as the much younger De Ligt, while there have also been links with experienced West Bromwich Albion centre-back Jonny Evans.

Pochettino has reshuffled his defensive ranks in recent seasons and with speculation over the future of Alderweireld and Danny Rose, this summer is set to be no different.

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