Report: Manchester United and Tottenham Agree Deal for Toby Alderweireld

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached an agreement for centre-back Toby Alderweireld ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, but the north London outfit will not complete the deal until they have a replacement

Per Kris Voakes of Goal, United are "nervous" the transfer could still collapse given the short amount of time Spurs have left to find a replacement, so the Red Devils remain on the lookout for another defensive option.

According to David Maddock in the Mirror, United refused to meet Spurs' £55 million valuation, as the Belgian is in the final year of his contract, and they recently made a final "take-it-or-leave-it bid" of no more than £40 million.

United have been linked with numerous centre-backs during the summer, including Leicester City's Harry Maguire, Barcelona's Yerry Mina and, most recently, Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng, per Sky in Germany.

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But Alderweireld would arguably be the best signing of the lot given his Premier League experience, leadership skills and consistent quality.

It has seemed likely the 29-year-old could depart White Hart Lane for some time, as he seemed to fall out of favour with Mauricio Pochettino last term, barely being given a chance in the Premier League in the second half of the campaign despite recovering from injury.

His contract situation is also something of a headache for Spurs.

Per Dan Kilpatrick of ESPN.co.uk, Tottenham have the option of triggering a one-year extension on Alderweireld's contract that would tie him to the club until 2020, but it would also activate a release clause of just £25 million.

As a result, while United have reportedly refused to cough up the full £55 million for the defender, Spurs may have decided a fee of around £40 million is the best they are going to get for the Belgium international.

They have got the best out of him since his £11.5 million move from Atletico Madrid in 2015.

He and Jan Vertonghen have arguably been the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League since Alderweireld joined the club.

But Spurs also know they can cope without him given he did not make a Premier League appearance between late October and mid-April last season.