Chelsea set to ramp up pursuit of Man Utd and Barcelona target Alderweireld – report

CHELSEA are set to put themselves fully in the hunt for the signing of Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld.

05:30, Sat, Mar 31, 2018

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Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona are rumoured to be interested in signing Toby Alderweireld

Reports in The Mirror suggest Chelsea are leading the race despite Spurs being reluctant to sell to their Premier League rivals.

The Blues are hoping to talk Mauricio Pochettino down from a £55million asking price and are willing to pay closer to £40m.

Manchester United and Barcelona are also rumoured to be after the Belgian’s signature as Spurs refuse to meet his £150,000-a-week demands.

Alderweireld’s current contract at Tottenham includes a one-year extension option which would see him stay at the club until 2020.

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Chelsea target Toby Alderweireld has had his season blighted by injury

However the centre-back has been warned by Belgium coach Roberto Martinez that he needs more game time if he is to force his way into the squad for the World Cup.

But Alderweireld is set to remain on the bench as Tottenham travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

“I have an amazing relationship with Roberto,” Pochettino said. “I understand his comment, like all the managers.

“If I am the Belgium manager, England manager or Argentina manager I want all my players to play. But my focus is to manage Tottenham and win games with Tottenham. I cannot be kind with every single manager.

Paul Mariner predicts Toby Alderweireld to leave Tottenham

“Toby in the last four months has struggled with his injury.

“I am not going to change the system because Toby needs games for the World Cup.

“I need to pick two centre-backs and if you are happy you keep the couple of players and he needs to wait.

“The interest for me is Tottenham, it’s about Tottenham winning. I understand his international manager but what can I do?

“I need to pick the players that I believe are the best players to win against Chelsea and then against Stoke. I cannot play with more than 11 and you need to choose.”