Tottenham to bid for Swansea player valued at £40m two years after he cost £5m - Times
By Richard Parks
Tottenham are preparing a summer bid for Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson, according to a report.
The Times claim the London giants are closely monitoring the centre-back, 24, with a view to a formal move when the window opens.
The Sun report that Mawson is valued at £40million by Swansea after he was the subject of intense interest from West Ham in the winter window.
Mawson has made rapid strides for the Welsh side since he was signed from Barnsley for £5million in the summer of 2016.
Tottenham are keeping tabs amid doubts over the future of Belgium international defender Toby Alderweireld.
Football Insider verdict:
Mawson is tough, durable and Swansea's outstanding player this season. Confident with the ball at his feet and commanding in the air, his positional play and awareness has improved since joining from Barnsley in the summer of 2016. He has the potential to be a major player for Mauricio Pochettino, who will appreciate that Mawson has been an ever-present for the Swans this season and barely misses a game. The market for capable centre-backs has shifted following Virgil van Dijk's £75million transfer to Liverpool and Spurs are clearly going to have to spend seriously big to land Mawson. If Alderweireld fails to agree a new contract and leaves, expected a concerted bid for Mawson.
In other Tottenham news, Mauricio Pochettino has been at the centre of a huge Spurs dressing room bust-up.