LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer Transfer News

Report: Tottenham could use Marcus Edwards as makeweight in De Ligt deal

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur speaks to the media during the Tottenham Hotspur Press Conference at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on...
Follow us on Google Discover

Eredivisie giants Ajax reportedly want more than the £48m offered by Spurs for Matthijs de Ligt – so could the Premier League giants offer an exchange deal?

Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in...

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a whole host of talented centre-backs this summer, from Jonny Evans to Jamaal Lascelles, Benjamin Pavard to Jonathan Tah. But it seems that the North London giants have set their heart on Ajax’s teenage talisman Matthijs de Ligt.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Tottenham have now launched a staggering, club-record bid of £48 million for the 18-year-old centre-back, who became Ajax’s youngest ever captain last season at the age of just 18.

Ajax are holding out for a fee of £52.5 million for the ball-playing Dutchman. But, if Football London is to be believed, Spurs have an ace up their sleeve.

Raheem Sterling of England is blocked by Matthijs de Ligt of the Netherlands during the international friendly match between Netherlands and England at Johan Cruyff Arena on March 23, 2018...

It is understood that the highly-rated 19-year-old Marcus Edwards has decided to leave Tottenham this summer despite having another two years on his contract. Tottenham, however, are obviously reluctant to sell such a promising talent, who Mauricio Pochettino compared to none other than Lionel Messi in 2016.

But Football London reports that Spurs could aim to make the best out of a bad situation.

Marcus Edwards of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League 2 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Reading at The Lamex Stadium on March 13, 2017 in Stevenage, England.

It is understood that Ajax have been tracking the fleet-footed winger for some time and are still keeping tabs on his situation. And Spurs could potentially use Edwards as a makeweight in the deal to bring De Ligt to White Hart Lane.

While Tottenham fans would be very disappointed to see one of their most exciting home-grown talents leave, at least this way his departure would be overshadowed by De Ligt’s show-stopping arrival.