Tottenham set stunning demands for Manchester United target Alderweireld

Manchester United have entered negotiations with Tottenham for Toby Alderweireld, claims The Daily Mirror.

Alderweireld is expected to leave Tottenham this summer after dropping out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino in the last six months.

Tottenham are unwilling to meet Alderweireld’s contract demands and look set to cash in on the Belgium international before the start of next season.  

Alderweireld only has 12 months remaining on his existing Spurs deal, but the north London outfit have a clause to prolong his stay by a further year.  

However, by doing so Tottenham will also activate a £25m release clause that will be active for the final two weeks of the summer transfer window in 2019.  

With that in mind, Pochettino’s side will sell the 29-year-old this summer when they can still command maximum value.  

Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Alderweireld, but United are the favourites to land the Belgian centre-back.  

Jose Mourinho’s side have opened talks with their Premier League rivals and hope to conclude a deal worth in the region of £50m for his services.

However, it has now emerged that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is ready to pay hardball with United.  

Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75m in January and Levy wants to command a similar fee for Alderweireld, despite the fact his contract is running out.

Alderweireld endured the longest injury lay-off of his career this season, missing three months with a hamstring injury.

In that time, Davinson Sanchez really flourished for Tottenham and Pochettino no longer deems Alderweireld an indispensible member of the squad as a result.

No outfielder completed more long balls per Premier League game this season than Alderweireld (7.9).