Tottenham Hotspur have identified Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah as the ideal candidate to replace Toby Alderweireld if the Belgian is sold ahead of next season, according to reports.

Alderweireld is reportedly heading for the Spurs exit after failing to agree a new contract with the club, and Tah is one player that the Premier League club have been tracking closely.

The Spurs defender should have no shortage of takers and the North Londoners are likely to take a dip in the transfer market if the 29-year-old is sold in summer.

Davinson Sanchez was drafted in from Ajax at the start of the season and the young Colombian has hugely impressed in the absence of Alderweireld. And as the Belgian has spent much of this season on the sidelines due to injury, Sanchez has gradually established himself as the first choice centre-back, alongside Jan Vertonghen.

And now the Mirror reports that Spurs have been tracking Tah’s progress closely and could make a move for him in case Alderweireld refuses to sign a new deal.

Alderweireld’s current contract has a clause which could see him leave Tottenham for a cut-price fee of £25.4million– a clause that will become active in the summer of 2019.

The Belgian turned 29 three days ago and Spurs would be willing to offload him next summer in order to raise some cash rather wait for one more year and sell him at a relatively cheaper cost.

The report adds should Spurs think on the prospect of signing Tah, the defender would cost £35million.

Tah has established himself as one of the finest young centre-backs across Europe. The Bayer Leverkusen defender stands at six-foot-four and is a physically imposing figure blessed with good feet. Tah is a solid defender and equally adept at passing the ball from the back and making top decisions under pressure situations.

With such a burly frame, the German surprisingly boasts a different level of agility and keeps the ability to maraud forward with the ball.

At just 22, Tah has already played for the German national team and has made over 121 senior appearances since making his debut for Hamburg in 2013.

Spurs should do whatever it is needed to stop Alderweireld from leaving the club and even if the effort goes in vain, it would make sense for them to make a move for the promising Tah, who has a sky-high potential and could develop into one of the best modern-day centre-backs as years roll by.