Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is ready to push Toby Alderweireld’s price up to £40 million if his release clause is allowed to expire on Friday.

And that could accelerate Manchester United’s bid to land Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward sitting out of the last leg of the club’s pre-season tour to work on transfers.

United are hopeful of signing Maguire from Leicester City, but have made Alderweireld one their primary back-up options should they be forced to look elsewhere.

Woodward, though, will be aware that it could cost United an extra £15m if they allow Alderweireld’s clause to expire and then miss out on Maguire, forcing them to go back for the Belgian.

It means United may try to finalise a deal for Maguire before Friday in case they then have to turn to Alderweireld if a deal for the England international cannot be agreed.

Leicester have been holding out for between £80m and £90m for Maguire, who wants to move to Old Trafford, while Alderweireld’s clause allows him to leave Tottenham for just £25m until July 26.

Alderweireld’s clause also stipulates that a club would have to pay it in no more than three installments and over no more than two years.