Gazzetta dello Sport reported in June that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld this summer. However, the 20-time English champions were having “difficulties” to agree a fee with Spurs for the centre-back.
The situation has forced the Red Devils look elsewhere in the transfer market. AC Milan’s Leonardo Bonucci and Inter Milan defender Milan Škriniar have been emerged as targets for United.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Spurs defender Alderweireld is the first choice target for the Portuguese tactician at Old Trafford. The 29-year-old is representing Belgium at the 2018 World Cup, where they will face Brazil in the quarter-final.
United are not the only club linked with the former Atletico Madrid defender. An earlier report from Gazzetta dello Sport suggested the Nerazzurri has also identified Alderweireld as a target to replace Škriniar, if the latter leaves the club.
TMW now claims United are now the “favourite club” to sign the Tottenham defender this summer. The report does not mention any bid made by Mourinho’s side or if the north London club have accepted United’s offer to allow Alderweireld join their league rivals.
It’s interesting that this claims comes from Italy this week, given the media there have been linking several Serie A defenders with a move to Old Trafford. This could be TMW saying there’s not much in those claims and the Belgian remains the preferred choice.
