Do it Emery – Arsenal must hijack Mourinho’s move for this £75m-rated Tottenham star

As per reports, Manchester United are interested in signing Tottenham centre-back Toby Alderweireld in the summer transfer window, with Spurs wanting £75m for their star man.

Alderweireld, 29, is out of contract at the end of next season but has so far failed to agree to terms on a new contract. The Belgian clearly wants a way out and Jose Mourinho, who is not happy with his defence, is willing to sign him in summer.

However, as strange as it may sound, Arsenal must look to hijack United’s move for Alderweireld. Being Tottenham’s north London rivals, it is highly unlikely to see Arsenal sign the centre-back but Alderweireld is worth a shot, isn’t it?

Since joining Spurs from Southampton, Alderweireld has established himself as one of the top centre-backs in the Premier League. Though the 29-year-old endured an injury-hit campaign, he is one of the best in the business and Arsenal must try luring him to the Emirates.

Arsenal’s defensive frailties have been well publicised throughout the season. Going forward, the Gunners possess an abundance of attacking quality and skill but the same cannot be said about their defence.

They conceded more than 50 goals in the league this season, which is shocking considering the defenders Arsenal have at their disposal.

Laurent Koscielny has ruptured his Achilles tendon which will sideline him for long, while Per Mertesacker has retired. After a decent first season, Shkodran Mustafi was expected to come good but the German had a highly inconsistent second year at Emirates.

Apart from them, the Gunners have a lot of young central defenders in Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos but new manager Unai Emery will need an experienced defender to rebuild the club.

Also, after seeing Arsenal leak goals at an alarming rate this season, Emery should be aiming to recruit a new centre-back in the summer transfer window to fight at the top once again after some years of mediocrity.

Alderweireld falls in the bracket of the elite class of defenders. His strengths are his tackling and his passing, while he will also provide some physical presence in the defence.

The Belgian is a ball-playing centre-back, unlike the current crop of Arsenal defenders. The defender is great in the air, and he has a lot of top-level experience as well.

For all the reasons, Alderweireld would be a top signing for Arsenal given his technical quality, intelligence, reading of the game, along with his aerial domination. Also, the 29-year-old is proven in the Premier League, which would serve well for the Gunners.

It is difficult to imagine Alderweireld in an Arsenal jersey. Sol Campbell, after a nine-year reign in which he captained Tottenham to success in the 1999 League Cup, joined Arsenal in the early 2000s and became a hated figure among the fans of his former club.

Alderweireld surely won’t be asking for a Sol Campbell story to happen with himself by joining the Gunners but with Arsenal under new boss Unai Emery, the Belgian could do the unthinkable if the Gunners come up with an astonishing bid.