Premier League champions Chelsea reportedly risk losing out on top defensive target Toby Alderweireld to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Jose Mourinho had apparently identified the Atletico Madrid man, who impressed during a season-long loan spell at Southampton last season, as one of three prospective summer signings.
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The Blues boss was willing to allow left-back Filipe Luis, who made only nine league starts in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, to return to the Spanish capital in exchange for Alderweireld.
But the Belgian, 26, is keen to secure regular football ahead of Euro 2016 and has been given assurances by Mauricio Pochettino that he would be a key figure at White Hart Lane, according to The Times.
Pochettino has already recruited Kevin Wimmer and Kieran Trippier this summer and wants one more addition to a defence which had a worse record than any other team in the top half last term.
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Southampton have exercised the option to sign Alderweireld on a permanent transfer, but Atletico will apparently reject that offer and pay the Saints a compensation fee of £1.4m to open up the bidding.
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