Tottenham would have to pay a club-record £48million for Matthijs de Ligt. Mauricio Pochettino is lining up Ajax’s Dutch star, 18, to replace Toby Alderweireld next season, he will have to break the bank to land the highly-rated defender, who is also wanted by Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Asked about his future, De Ligt said: “Am I ready for a different experience? Maybe, yes. I don’t know.” If Spurs fail to land him they could move for Newcastle skipper and former England Under-21 star Jamaal Lascelles, 24.De Ligt, who turns 19 this summer, was developed through the famous Ajax academy.