Chelsea will bid £45m for Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, claims The Sun.
Alderweireld is set to leave Tottenham at the end of the season after failing to agree a new deal.
His existing contract will expire in 2019, but Tottenham have an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
However, by doing so it will activate a £25m release clause in Alderweireld’s deal during the final 14 days of transfer window in 2019.
As a result, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are willing to cash in on the 29-year-old this summer when they can still command top value.
Tottenham’s preference is to sell Alderweireld abroad but they are bracing themselves for Premier League interest.
Manchester United are expected to step up their interest in the Belgium international but Chelsea are ready to make the first move.
Alderweireld missed three months of the season with a hamstring injury and has since lost his place in the team, as Pochettino is only willing to use players completely committed to the club.
The former Atletico Madrid defender has been limited to just 11 league appearances this season. No outfielder averages more long balls per game in the Premier League this season than Alderweireld (8.5).
