If the latest reports are true, Arsenal is prepared to make a shocking bid for Tottenham Hotspur central defender Toby Alderweireld in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Nobody else hates Arsenal as much as Tottenham Hotspur fans and vice versa. But there have been instances when the two most hated North London rivals have done their transfer business with each other in the past.
Now, with Unai Emery’s Arsenal looking to compete for silverware in the near future, the Spaniard needs transfer funds in the summer to bolster his squad but the club is still on a budget. Therefore, Emery and Arsenal are looking at the best potential buys in the market when it opens up.
One area that the Gunners heavily need to address is their shaky defensive line which has been caught out on plenty of occasions. Emery needs defensive reinforcements this summer if he wants to build a strong team and Arsenal has now been linked with a shock move to sign Toby Alderweireld from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 47-year-old Spanish manager stated earlier that he wanted a player who had the aura of Virgil Van Dijk to be signed in the summer and Toby Alderweireld fits the bill. Alongside Van Dijk, the Belgian is one of the best center-backs in the Premier League.
The main reason that Arsenal is targeting Alderweireld is that the 30-year-old defender has a release clause of only £25 million, which is much lower than his market value. With the cut-price, even Premier League rivals Manchester United are interested in Alderweireld’s services.
Although there have not been any initial offers for Alderweireld as of yet, Spurs will be keen to tie him down at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and clear out any of the interested parties who can make a move before the 26th of July.
It would be unlikely that Alderweireld could make the switch from Spurs to the Emirates considering the rivalry between the two London outfits. But former England defender Sol Campbell made the controversial move to Arsenal back in 2001 after being frustrated with the lack of ambition and trophies at Tottenham.
