Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt after Ajax moved closer to completing a deal for his replacement.

De Ligt has been heavily linked with a move away from the Dutch outfit this summer, with the likes of Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all understood to be tracking the youngster.

The 18-year-old has made 39 appearances for Ajax across all competitions this season, establishing himself as a first-team regular and even becoming the youngest captain in Dutch professional football history in January.

Ajax are reluctant to lose De Ligt, but recognise that they may not be able to fend off the interest in their rising star and so have been looking for a potential replacement.

Football.london reports that the Eredivisie runners-up are closing in on a deal to sign Lisandro Magallan from Boca Juniors, which would open the door for De Ligt to leave the club should a suitable offer arrive.

Spurs are understood to be leading the race for his signature as they look for a replacement for Toby Alderweireld, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United.