Manchester United fans are overloaded with transfer gossip today as their pursuit for a world class defender heats up with the January window whirling around once more.
Following on from Kalidou Koulibaly’s (intentional, unintentional?) teasing message in his correspondence with Paul Pogba, there are fresh reports about another purported target, in the form of Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian centre-back has recently signed a new contract at Spurs which provides a 12-month extension that includes a clause that will allow him to leave the club for £25million in the summer. The clause remains operational until a fortnight before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The clause has reportedly caught the attention of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain who make snatch the 29-year-old from under Manchester United’s noses, in the hopes of bolstering their defence with a true world-class centre-back.
Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura have made the opposite journey from Paris to North London in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and there is genuine hope, according to The Telegraph, that the two club’s friendly relations will allow the ease of Alderweireld’s departure to France.
Alderweireld has been a Lilywhite since 2015 and has been in 134 fixtures.
In their first game of 2019, Tottenham saw off Cardiff City in a 3-0 to reignite previously fading hopes of a Premier League title challenge, a match in which Alderweireld participated in the heart of defence.
Paris Saint-Germain have their extended Christmas break and take on Garde Saint-Ivy Pontivy in the Coupe de France on January 6th.
