• Premier League

Spurs linked with £10m move for Atletico's Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld pace and composure on the ball has impressed at Southampton © PA Photos

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Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld has hinted he could join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Alderweireld, 26, is currently on loan at St Mary's from Atletico Madrid and has impressed at the heart of a Southampton backline that has the best defensive record in the Premier League.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Saints have a £6.8 million option to make his move permanent, but Atletico have their own clause to remove it for a fee of £1.5 million which would allow them to sell the player to any other club - including Tottenham.

Alderweireld, who could cost Tottenham upwards of £10 million, said he would be interested in linking up with Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen at Tottenham, who he also played with at Ajax.

"I would like to play with Jan Vertonghen again," said Alderweireld. "But a transfer will be arranged later, not now. Atletico will decide my future, but I would like to stay in the Premier League. That some of the big clubs show interest proves I'm doing well."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who himself quit Southampton for White Hart Lane last summer, is planning an overhaul of his defensive options at the end of the season, with Cologne defender Kevin Wimmer confirming he has had talks over a £4.3 million move.

Vlad Chiriches and captain Younes Kaboul could be among the players to make way as Pochettino looks to tighten up a defence which has already let in 45 goals. Only four clubs have a worse defensive record and it is more than double Southampton's goals against tally.

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