Transfer Target #4- Toby Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld has been widely linked with a move to the Premier League. He has been linked with possible moves to Liverpool and Norwich, but, according to reports, a £6.9m deal was accepted by Ajax in the summer, but Alderweireld and the Canaries 'couldn't agree personal terms'. According to the player's agent, Soren Lerby, the failure of the materialisation of the deal was not down to the standing of the club, but in fact, personal terms.

The Belgian international has been a rock at centre/right back for Ajax, playing 33 out of the 34 league games and conceding a mere 31 goals in the last season. The best defensive record in the league, I must add. This superior defensive record helped Ajax to their 3rd consecutive Eredivisie title. 

In 2004, Alderweireld signed for the Ajax youth academy from Germinal Beerschot and 3 years later, signed his first professional contract. The wait for his debut appearance ended in January 2009 in a 4-2 defeat of NEC Nijmegen. In the 2009/2010 season, Toby secured a regular position in the heart of defence along with future Spurs star, Jan Vertonghen and at the end of this season won the 'Ajax Talent of the Year' award. With his contract running out at the end of this season, Toby has decided not to renew his contract with Ajax. 

At 24 years of age, Alderweireld has made a handful of international appearances, 24 to be precise, since his senior debut back at the end of the 2008/2009 season. With defensive spaces tight in the international set up, this leaves Toby competing with wholesale names such as Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen - a very difficult job to accomplish with this rising Belgian squad.

With the renewal of the contract at Ajax looking minimal Alderweireld is shop window calibre, attracting big names such as Liverpool, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen and, of course, Norwich City. His height and physical presence would be much needed on Merseyside to help deal with the likes of Robin Van Persie and Peter Crouch, to name a few. With Napoli on the rise, Alderweireld would make a superb signing and would develop under the watchful eye of club captain and World Cup winner, Paolo Cannavaro. Reports on Sky Sports say that if a transfer away from the Amsterdam ArenA does not materialise, then Toby would be happy to remain there and see the rest of his contract out, and check again in the summer.

For a player that wouldn't grab the headlines over here in Britain, if a move over the water does happen, Toby's credentials could soar just as his footballing career has at Ajax. A player I would love to see over in England, even if it is for Liverpool.