Barcelona have reportedly failed in their attempts to bring Matthijs de Ligt to the Nou Camp, and Tottenham must grasp the opportunity to sign the perfect Toby Alderweireld replacement.

What's the word?

While Alderweield is now expected to stay until 2020, a clause in the defender’s extended contract means he can be bought for just £25m this summer.

Given that the Belgian international has also struggled with hamstring injuries and certainly isn’t getting any younger, the Lilywhites should already be hunting his replacement.

They may just be in luck too, as reports from Spanish outlet AS (via Sports Mole) say Barcelona are no longer in the running to sign de Ligt.

Just how good is he?

The 19 year-old Dutch international is touted as the best young defender in the world, and loads of Tottenham fans are desperate to sign him, as you can see from the tweet down below.

De Ligt has formed a superb partnership for the Netherlands alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, racking up 13 caps despite only turning 19 in August.

He is extremely quick, a natural leader, and his best trait is one that Alderweireld also possesses – an elite level of composure both on and off the ball, reading the game like a player double his age.

Tottenham have formed a reputation under Daniel Levy for bargain hunting, but smashing the club’s transfer record on de Ligt might just be the chairman’s greatest ever signing.

So, Spurs fans, what do you think about de Ligt? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…