Tottenham Transfer News: Spurs Reportedly Rival Arsenal for Jannik Vestergaard

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to compete with north London rivals Arsenal for the signing of Jannik Vestergaard.

TransferMarketWeb's Claudio Colla (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star) says Serie A side Inter Milan are also in the mix for the Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back, who is likely to cost suitors £15 million.

Vestergaard only moved to the Bundesliga last summer, per Williams, who thinks Spurs could still make a move during the January transfer window to offset the injury suffered by Toby Alderweireld.

The Belgium international is Tottenham's best defender, but has been out since November with a hamstring injury. Last month, Alderweireld admitted he has a "serious muscle tear" possibly requiring surgery, per Kristof Terreur of HLN.

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Without Alderweireld, Tottenham have relied on Jan Vertonghen and summer import Davinson Sanchez. The latter has struggled at times since his £42 million move from Ajax.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted he substituted Sanchez during the recent 2-0 win over Swansea City amid fears the Colombia international was going to be sent off, per Phil Blanche of Press Association Sport (via MailOnline).

Sanchez has already received one red card this season after elbowing Watford's Richarlison in December.

Spurs are short of additional options at centre-back, with 19-year-old Argentinian Juan Foyth yet to make an appearance in the Premier League. It means Pochettino's most notable alternative to Sanchez and Vertonghen is to drop holding midfielder Eric Dier back into defence.

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Since Pochettino has been fond of switching between a back four and a three-man defence, it makes sense for Spurs to reinforce the position. Beating Arsenal to the punch won't be easy, though—especially since the Gunners have the greater need for help at the back.

Arsenal have conceded 28 times in 22 league games, while Per Mertesacker is set to retire at the end of the season and Laurent Koscielny is 32. 

Winning any race for Vestergaard may have to wait until the summer, and would likely be determined by which of these clubs finishes in the top four and qualifies for next season's UEFA Champions League. Spurs are currently one place and two points above the Gunners, but remain three points adrift of Liverpool and fourth place.