Should Spurs match Everton’s reported £25m move for Lascelles?

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Everton are reportedly prepared to pay £25m for Jamaal Lascelles so should Tottenham Hotspur at least match the offer for the Newcastle skipper?

Everton are getting ready to make a £25m offer for Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles this summer, according to the Mirror.

The Toffees are prepared to sanction the same amount to sign Lascelles as they initially paid Burnley for Michael Keane last year – although that fee could rise depending on other clauses.

The defender has been one of the Magpies’ standout performers after they were promoted back to the Premier League as Championship winners and confirmed their place in the division for next season with five matches to go.

Who else is in the race?

The report states that both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping tabs on Lascelles and the latter could certainly need support at the back if, as expected, Toby Alderweireld leaves the club at the end of this term.

As the Sun outlines, Alderweireld’s current contract at Spurs expires in 2019 and although there is the option of a 12-month extension, that would also trigger a £25m release clause.

The North Londoners understandably don’t want to lose one of their best players for such a relatively modest fee and tried to negotiate a new deal with the Belgium international as a result.

Yet the 29-year-old’s demands were not met and therefore the centre-back could well be sold, with £45m the fee being touted.

Lascelles is five years younger than Alderweireld and would cost Tottenham £20m less than they would receive for the Belgian, so would they kick themselves if the Toffees landed the 24-year-old ahead of them?