Report: Guardiola believes Toby Alderweireld is one of the best, could mount huge bid in 2018

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Manchester City are reportedly planning a move for Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld.

According to The Sun, Manchester City are plotting a 2018 move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld, with Pep Guardiola claimed to be a huge fan of the centre back.

Whilst City splashed the cash on full backs on Danilo, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy over the summer, manager Guardiola chose not to bring in another central defender to boost his City back line.

John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have both been criticised in recent years, whilst Vincent Kompany’s well-documented fitness problems mean that many expected City to bring in another central defender – but Guardiola may be lining up a big move for 2018.

The Sun report that City are keeping close tabs on Toby Alderweireld’s situation at Tottenham Hotspur, and are plotting to make a move for the Belgian in 2018, with a summer move more likely than a January bid.

It’s claimed that Guardiola believes Alderweireld is one of the best defenders in the Premier League, and he now wants him to reunite with ex-Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker in a deal that may well reach around £60million.

Alderweireld, 28, has emerged as one of the top centre backs in Europe since joining Spurs from Atletico Madrid in 2015, having starred for Tottenham’s Premier League rivals Southampton during a loan spell for the 2014-15 season.

The Belgian international has been a major factor in Tottenham’s defensive solidity under Mauricio Pochettino, striking up a superb partnership with former Ajax defensive partner and current Belgian team-mate Jan Vertonghen.

The problem for Spurs is that Alderweireld’s agent, Stijn Francis, was quoted by The Independent earlier this week as saying that the defender needs to be given a bumper new contract – or be sold to a club will pay him accordingly.

It now remains to be seen whether prudent chairman Daniel Levy backs down and gives Alderweireld a new contract, but it seems that City are ready to pounce with a big offer if the situation continues to drag on.