Liverpool and Everton Trumped as Spartak Moscow Move For Ajax Star
Reported Liverpool and Everton target Toby Alderweireld is prepared to spurn the opportunity to wait for a move to the Premier League after welcoming interest from Spartak Moscow.
The Ajax defender remains open to a move away from the Dutch capital having entered the last year of his contract, but has admitted he is open to the possibility of renewing his deal should a club not come along with the right offer.
Liverpool have been linked with the Belgian centre half throughout the summer while Everton have also reportedly made a bid to bring the 24-year-old to the Premier League.
However it would now appear that the Russian club Spartak have moved to the front of the queue having met Ajax's valuation of €7m. Alderweireld maintains that he will not make his decision until after Belgium's international friendly with France on Wednesday, but has indicated he will consider the club's offer.
"I now understand that they have made Ajax an offer for me," Alderweireld told Dutch publication De Telegraaf.
"Only when the clubs are granted permission (to talk to me) will I think. I want to focus first on Belgium-France on Wednesday.
"I've always said that I will seriously look at each option. Those who know me know that I will never choose just for the money but for the image and history of the team."
Ajax confirmed earlier in the summer they had accepted a bid from Norwich City for Alderweireld, but the defender was unable to agree personal terms with the Canaries. The Amsterdam club confirmed on Sunday they have received a second offer thought to be from Spartak Moscow.
Having also garnered the interest of Tottenham Hotspur in the past, the defender has previously revealed that he would have a slight preference for playing in the Premier League, but again insisted the make up of the club would be the deciding factor.
"England and Germany are the best leagues where I think I can take the next step," Alderweireld said, speaking in June.
"I have to go somewhere where I can play football a bit and where my style of play suits. On the other hand, I do not want to play for a team at the bottom of their league. I want to leave Ajax for a nice club, otherwise I'll just stay in Amsterdam."
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