Dutch reports: Arsenal in talks for Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld

Reports have emerged in Holland on Tuesday morning that Arsenal have contacted Ajax to discuss the future of Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld.

The 24-year-old has long been linked with a move away from Amsterdam this summer, most recently Atletico Madrid were believed to be in pole position.

AD.nl are just one of a number of websites to suggest Arsenal have been in touch with Ajax to enquire about Alderweireld who could well come in as a back-up to the likes of Per Mertasacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Former Arsenal winger Marc Overmars, now the Ajax director of football, stuck with the line

that he has said all summer when questioned on the Gunners interest: “They would need to pay the asking price, if we were to let one of our players go.”

Atletico Madrid refused to pay the 7 million euro asking price for Alderweireld. The likes of Norwich, Everton, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have also been linked with the defender this summer.

If Alderweireld were to join Arsenal, he would link up with Belgian team mate Thomas Vermaelen at the Emirates.