Paris Saint-Germain will rival Manchester United for top defensive target

Manchester United will face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona for Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, claims The Daily Telegraph.

Alderweireld is widely expected to leave Tottenham at the end of the season after contract talks with the club collapsed earlier this year.

The Belgium international’s current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, although Tottenham have an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

However, by doing so it will also trigger a £25m release clause in the summer of 2019 that will be active up until the final 14 days of the transfer window.

Unless things change dramatically, it means Tottenham face the prospect of selling Alderweireld this summer when they can still command in the region of £40m for one of the Premier League’s best defenders.

United have earmarked Alderweireld as a top transfer target for the summer, as Jose Mourinho looks to sign a centre-back for the third summer in a row.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side would prefer to sell the 29-year-old abroad rather than directly strengthen a Premier League rival and this could work against United.

PSG and Barcelona are both interested in signing Alderweireld and it could take the player to personally push for a move to United in order for Mourinho’s side to be successful in their pursuit.

This season has been immensely frustrating for Alderweireld after enduring the longest injury lay-off of his career that kept him sidelined for three months.

He has only made two appearances since returning from a hamstring injury at the start of February and his importance to the team has diminished in that time following Davinson Sanchez’s arrival over the summer.

No Premier League outfielder averages more long balls per game than Alderweireld this season (9.1).