Everton & Tottenham Target Alderweireld Prefers Premier League Option

Reported Everton and Tottenham target Toby Alderweireld has revealed he would prefer a move to the Premier League rather than to Russia, after receiving an offer from Spartak Moscow.

Despite being linked with a move to numerous Premier League sides including Liverpool and Newcastle United over the summer, the Belgian centre half has thus far only received a concrete offer from the Russian club.

The 24-year-old has entered the last year of his current contract at the Amsterdam Arena but has insisted he will renew his stay should he not receive a deal that meets his ambitions elsewhere.

While he considers a lucrative offer from Spartak, Alderweireld admits the opportunity to play in the Premier League is still high on his agenda, comments that may spark Roberto Martinez and Andre Villas-Boas into life with just over two weeks of the transfer window remaining.

"I think it is important that I can take a step forward," Alderweireld is quoted as saying by Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

"Spartak Moscow is an option, but I will have to think. You know Russia is far from home, but then the level is higher than in the Netherlands.

"To be honest, I do prefer England over Russia. Every footballer dreams of playing football in the Premier League. Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle? We will see what options I have.

"At Ajax I am pretty sure of my place. And a year before the World Cup that is also an important point."

Everton were heavily linked with the Belgian international last week with a number of reports suggesting the club had lodged a bid in the region of £5m for his services.

But when quizzed on an offer from Goodison Park, Alderweireld insisted he was unaware of a bid.

"(There is no offer from Everton) that I know of, maybe my manager knows," he told Sky Sports News.

"But I was focusing on the game (Belgium's 0-0 draw with France midweek) and now I am focusing on Sunday.

"I didn't hear from those clubs. But those are beautiful clubs and the Premier League is a beautiful competition, so we will see."