The Red Devils are reportedly favorites in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld this summer transfer window. The highly-rated central defender is keen on moving away from the North London side and there are plenty of suitors that are interested in his services.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has identified that he needs to bring in top quality defenders at the club in order to dethrone Manchester City next term. The Blue half of Manchester broke many records as they stormed their way to the Premier League title last season and Pep Guardiola is also keen on building his squad even further. But Mourinho is eager to get one over his arch-rival and will be hoping to sign a top-class defender to bolster his back line.
The Premier League giants received some setbacks already this summer in the hunt for three central defenders as Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti was Mourinho’s prime target. The French defender decided to commit his future with the Catalonian club and remain at the Camp Nou. United then looked for another French defender as Mourinho was impressed with Sevilla’s Clement Lenglet but Barcelona are almost set to complete a deal for him as well. Manchester United was dealt with another blow when their €40 million bid for Alessio Romagnoli was rejected earlier this week by AC Milan leaving the English outfit rather frustrated.
But according to Tutto Mercato Web, United are frontrunners in order to lure Tottenham Hotspur outcast Toby Alderweireld to Old Trafford. The 29-year-old defender spent most of last season on the recovery table after a hamstring problem kept him out of action. But there are also some issues regarding Alderweireld’s future at Spurs as he is stalling a contract extension with the club in order for a better weekly wage. And although Alderweireld has been brilliant under Mauricio Pochettino Spurs are not willing to give into his requests just yet.
United already have a number of defenders but still are in the hunt for Alderweireld who has accomplished himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Toby Alderweireld is currently with his national side at the FIFA World Cup in Russia and has been immense at the back helping his country reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
However, the stumbling block between a deal taking place with United and Spurs is the transfer fee for Alderweireld. Jose Mourinho wants to spend no more than £50m for the 29-year-old defender but Spurs value their prized asset at a fee of €79m. And according to ESPN, United are favorites to sign the former Atletico Madrid defender, whose contract expires next summer.
I think that Mourinho should go ahead and spend the transfer fee for Alderweireld because there is an inflation in the transfer market and other deep-pocketed clubs can afford him. He is a top player and was really impressive at the World Cup in Russia too, proving once again that he is one of the centre-backs in the world of football at present.
