Virgil van Dijk comments a blow for Tottenham’s Matthijs de Ligt hopes

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Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be conducting a hunt for a new central defender. With doubts growing over the future of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, a long-term replacement is being sought.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Spurs have been linked with a swoop on Ajax as a result. The club have done good business with the Dutch giants before, including with current centre-backs Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez.

Ajax have a supreme young defensive option in Matthijs de Ligt. The 19-year-old is playing way beyond his young age. The teenager already has 11 caps for the Netherlands, over 50 games for the Ajax first-team and is already the Dutch side’s captain.

When playing for Holland he tends to play alongside Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool’s £75 million defender is forming a strong bond with the teenager and this week suggested Liverpool will undoubtedly be interested in the player.

“A good defender, good boy, calm, knows what he wants and hopefully he makes the right choice in his next step.”

“He will be on the list because they have enough scouts at the club.

“If they need my opinion at Liverpool, I’ll give it.”

– Virgil van Dijk on Matthijs de Ligt

Tottenham already knew that signing the Ajax man would be hard. De Ligt has been valued at €50 million (£43.6 million) by Barcelona, according to Sport, whilst Juventus and Manchester City have also been linked.

But if Liverpool come knocking, then Van Dijk will undoubtedly be a major help in an attempt to secure a permanent transfer. The chance to form a club and country defensive unit would be hard to reject and difficult for Tottenham to better.