La Blaugrana is prepared to join Manchester United in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld in the upcoming winter transfer window. The two clubs are in dire need of center-backs and will probably look at the speculation surrounding Tottenham in the near future regarding Alderweireld and take advantage of that situation.
Manchester United is currently in an unfamiliar situation as they languish in the eighth spot on the Premier League table and are struggling for any sort of form this term. The Red Devils have succumbed to humiliating losses off late against West Ham United and were dumped out of the League Cup by lower division side Derby County as well. Before the season began the Portuguese manager insisted that Manchester United would be in for a difficult season after failing to lure in a top quality center-back in the summer transfer window. United have felt the jolt of not wanting to splash out large transfer sums in order to sign a strong and commanding defender.
Even Barcelona are currently struggling in keeping most of their center-backs fit at the moment. With Samuel Umtiti out injured for a while, Barcelona is using Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique at the heart of their defense with Thomas Vermaelen being used sparingly as well. The Catalonian giants are well aware that they need to bolster their squad if they want to win the Champions League title this season. Barcelona’s defense has looked a bit shaky at times and they have conceded goals that a top quality defender would probably avoid.
Both these European giants are in the hunt to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld having identified the Belgian as one of the best defenders in the world. Alderweireld would be able to consider a switch away from North London as Spurs have been unable to win trophies over the past few seasons. There are also contract disputes going on between the club and the player with Alderweireld demanding a massive pay hike in order to remain under Mauricio Pochettino but Spurs are not willing to give him those wages just yet. The stalling of this contract extension would be ideal for Manchester United and Barcelona to make a move for Alderweireld in the winter transfer window. The experienced and versatile defender has just under a year left on his current deal and he can choose to sign a one year contract extension which would keep his release clause at just €25m, in the last few weeks of the next summer transfer window.
Jose Mourinho remains a big fan of Alderweireld as his physical nature would fit in well with the ‘Special One’s’ style of play. A big money move was prepared by the Manchester giants in the summer but a move failed to materialize. Barcelona will also be aware that if they want to win the Champions League title and dethrone Real Madrid, they will need to purchase a world class central defender just like Alderweireld and so it is time to really push for a deal.
