Tottenham have reportedly identified Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt as a potential summer transfer target if Toby Alderweireld leaves the club.

The 18-year-old Dutch centre-back has impressed for club and country this season, alerting the likes of Spurs to his vast potential.

And Football London write that De Ligt has emerged as a viable replacement for Alderweireld should the Belgian move on during the close season.

Matthijs de Ligt has emerged as a potential transfer target for Tottenham this summer

The 18-year-old has impressed for Ajax and Holland in recent months with his assured displays

Toby Alderweireld's (left) future remains up in the air as links to top European sides persist

Speculation persists that the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are interested in 29-year-old Alderweireld, who was a key component in Mauricio Pochettino's defence before succumbing to a knee injury in October.

The former Atletico Madrid man has yet to feature in a Premier League game since then, and with contract talks also currently believed to be at an impasse, Football London claim that De Ligt has emerged as one of a number of possible options.

Several other European sides are understood to be monitoring the teenager, who has captained Ajax at times this season and recently starred on international duty for Holland.

But his remarkable rise means that an astronomical £50m fee may be necessary to prize away the elegant defender.

It would not be the first time Spurs have raided Ajax for a centre-back, with Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen both making the move from the Dutch capital to north London in recent seasons.