Spurs are on the lookout for a new central defender as one of their top priorities this summer, and according to reports, they have made some inquiries...

What's the word?

According to Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas, one of the names that the North London outfit are taking a look at is Southampton colossus Jannik Vestergaard.

It's claimed that Spurs are assessing their options ahead of the upcoming transfer window, and it is not the first time they have been linked with the Denmark international.

Last month, the Daily Express suggested the Lilywhites would target Vestergaard as will soon enter the final year of his current £60k-per-week contract at St Mary's Stadium, and it is thought he would be available for around £18m.

Daniel Levy has done business with the Saints before, most recently snatching their former skipper Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from their grasp for just £15m, with rarely-seen defender Kyle Walker-Peters going in the other direction for £12m, as per the Independent.

Bye-bye Sanchez?

It is believed that Spurs will have to sell before they buy this summer, according to the Daily Mail, and there could be many names on the chopping block for whoever takes the helm ahead of the new campaign.

One name that could leave is Davinson Sanchez, who has been linked with a return to Eredivisie champions Ajax, where he initially joined from in a then club-record £42m deal, in recent weeks and is said to be 'likely to leave.'

The Dutch outfit's former assistant coach Gerard van der Lem revealed that the 24-year-old was someone the club were looking at - speaking on NH Radio Sportcafe (via quotes sourced by AjaxShowTime), he said:

"I have heard in the corridors that they want to bring him back. The question is on what basis. In England, it is a purchase that does not work, then they sell him for thirty per cent less; they don’t care. The best is if you can buy him, but if you can [loan] him, that’s of course great."

Given Levy needs to raise finances to fund any deal, he should look to sanction his exit and use the money to bring in Vestergaard, who appears to be a far more reliable option in the Premier League.

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Just last month, following Spurs' draw to relegation-threatened Newcastle, ex-ROI captain Kenny Cunningham slammed the Colombian as "a real liability to his team" whilst former Sheffield United midfielder Curtis Woodhouse believes the "clumsy" centre-back "probably costs" Spurs "20 goals a season."

The 6 foot 6 monster, however, has been attributed as being crucial to the Saints' recent rise under Ralph Hasenhuttl. "An outcast for much of last season, an epitome of the transformation since last autumn," wrote Ben Fisher in the Guardian.

Indeed, he currently rates out as Southampton's second-best player (6.97), as per WhoScored ratings, only sat behind James Ward-Prowse (7.05).

He's not just a hugely imposing aerial threat either, he's equally adept with the ball at his feet, where he has managed an 83.3% passing accuracy despite spraying 3.6 long balls per game - the most of any outfield player on the south coast.

Again, only Ward-Prowse is better with the ball at his feet and that's understandable as he's a midfielder.

The Dane's form led to high praise from Martin Keown back in January, where he compared him to a fellow Premier League beast. He told talkSPORT:

“It’s his passing. It reminds me of [Virgil] Van Dijk. I call it a stationary platform. When you don’t run with the ball you stop and when you look at those two, the way the ping balls, the way he threads things into midfield, the challenges, he’s a big man."

Not to mention that the current Saints star also has leadership qualities that would appeal to a team like Tottenham. Hasenhuttl described him as a "real leader on the pitch" recently.

Van Dijk swapped St Mary's for Liverpool and has never looked back since, and it is that sort of presence that Spurs desperately need in the heart of their defence as recurring defensive mistakes have been the defining theme of their turbulent and troubled season.

Sanchez has been a huge part of their erroneous ways, so it's time to move him on amid interest from his former club and Levy would do no wrong in signing Vestergaard, especially if he's truly shades of Van Dijk.

For £18m, it's a no-brainer.

AND in other news, Levy could excite Spurs fans by hiring "hyper-offensive" 63 y/o who's adored by Zidane...