Premier League 2018-19: 3 signings that can turn Spurs into title contenders

#2 Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax Amsterdam)

Matthijs De Ligt can be Vertonghen's long-term replacement

A product of Ajax's famed academy, de Ligt is the captain of the side and has been a regular for the Netherlands ever since. His progression has been attracting the attention of top clubs.

de Ligt broke into Ajax's first-team squad at 16 - the sort of age that is absurdly young for a central defender. At the age of 17, he became the youngest player to start for the national team since 1931.

During the UEFA Nations League, de Ligt started and played 90 minutes in all four group matches against Germany and France as the Netherlands won the group and qualified for the Nations League Finals.

His biggest low came in March 2017, when he made his international debut in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria. The Bulgarians targeted the 17-year-old every time he got the ball, forcing him into errors, and won 2-0. Coach Danny Blind, who had gambled on him, was sacked after the match and the Netherlands missed qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

How he overcame this experience to become a wonderful young defender is truly wonderful. He admitted his mistakes, learned from it and moved on.

He displays a surprisingly light-footed dribble from the back, a sharp forward pass with either foot and a knack for heading in corners. The starlet has the tactical knowledge and always seems to find his best positions.

On 17 December 2018, de Ligt won the Golden Boy award, becoming the first ever defender to do so. As Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are in their 30s, Tottenham are heavily in need of a new centre-back.

If the North London giants can manage to secure his services by beating the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona, they will certainly get rewarded as he is a gem of a player.