Reported Spurs target Mawson is very similar to Alderweireld and that is no coincidence

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Will Tottenham Hotspur turn to Swansea City to sign Alfie Mawson if they decide to sell Toby Alderweireld in the summer transfer window?

It looks unlikely that Toby Alderweireld will be a Tottenham Hotspur player next season.

The Belgian is out of contract in the summer of 2019 and, so far, no movement has been made on a new deal. According to the Times, Spurs could be tempted to cash in this summer with a number of suitors both in England and on the continent, ensuring they will not lose Alderweireld for free 12 months later.

The hard part, however, is finding a replacement for one of the most complete defenders around. Although, in Swansea City’s Alfie Mawson, Tottenham could hardly do much better.

According to the Times, Spurs are planning a summer bid for the 24-year-old, whose fine form in South Wales saw him rewarded with a place in Gareth Southgate’s most recent England squad.

Spurs will have to pay big of course, Swansea demanding £25 million in January according to the Mail, but it is surely no coincidence that Mawson is essentially an Alderweireld-lite.

Like the former Ajax and Atletico Madrid man, Mawson is renowned for his aerial presence at both ends of the field and his ability to man-mark even the most slippery of strikers out of a game.

But it is not just his defensive ability but the distribution and technique that should have Spurs fans salivating. Alderweireld is renowned, after all, for his inch-perfect sixty yard diagonal passes that have become such an outlet for starting attacking moves in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

And Mawson, a deceptively technical centre-half, has the same pinpoint ping in his locker. He is, in many ways, a real like-for-like replacement.