Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Genk youngster Matte Smets.
The Blues and the Lilywhites will fight it out on the pitch on Sunday afternoon, when Ange Postecoglou's strugglers host Enzo Maresca's men in North London for a Premier League clash.
Focusing on Smets, the 20-year-old has made an impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign for the Belgian Pro League outfit Genk, featuring heavily.
The centre-back has started 14 of his side's 16 top-flight fixtures, growing into a formidable force on the right side of a central-defensive duo.
Highlighting his rapid development, Smets was handed his maiden Belgium senior cap in November, playing 45 minutes of the UEFA Nations League defeat to Israel.
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Chelsea, Tottenham want Belgian star Smets?
According to TBR Football, two Premier League powerhouses are set to battle it out for the services of Genk and Belgium enforcer Smets in the near future.
The report claims that both Chelsea and Tottenham are keen on the 20-year-old, who will turn 21 years of age four days into the new calendar year.
As well as the Blues and Spurs, it is understood that fellow top-flight club Aston Villa are monitoring the progress of Smets at Genk this season.
The young defender could solve a depth issue on the right side of the Villans' backline, linking up with compatriots Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans in the Second City.
Adding their name into the transfer hat, Newcastle United are also supposedly interested in a 2025 move for Smets, who has played 75 games in competitive men's football.
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Tottenham need a defensive change
With both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero sidelined due to injury, Tottenham have suffered a loss of defensive solidity, coinciding with their downturn in form.
Veteran Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin formed the centre-back pairing for Spurs on Thursday night, when they were defeated 1-0 by Bournemouth.
Welshman Davies was forced off in the second period with an injury, meaning that the visitors to the Vitality Stadium finished the game with youngster Archie Gray at the heart of their backline.
Although it is unclear whether Smets would be able to immediately perform in the Premier League, the promising 20-year-old would at least represent good cover at centre-back.
Carter White
