Everton and Liverpool are ready to go head to head in the race to sign Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, reports The MailOnline.
Though David Moyes has yet to sign a new contract with Everton, he has been planning as normal for next season and has scouted the Belgium international, who would cost £7million.
Moyes would be keen to add Alderweireld to the squad, linking up the Belgian with international compatriots Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas.
But Liverpool are also keen on Alderweirled and their need to sign a defender is obvious, given that Jamie Carragher is retiring at the end of the campaign and there are doubts over the futures of both Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel.
Alderweireld, a 24-year-old, has been capped 23 times by his country and has played for Ajax since 2008 after joining them from Beerschot.