Mauricio Pochettino's decision to sign Toby Alderweireld in 2015 has unquestionably been one of his smartest since taking the reigns at Tottenham Hotspur. 

The brilliant Belgium international is a gladiatorial presence in central defence, marshalling his fellow defenders and leading by example on an ominously consistent basis.

He is a close contender to rival Virgil Van Dijk for the accolade of the Premier League's best defender, so it's no wonder the Spurs supporters are feeling so nervous about his contract situation.

Will he stay or will he go? Only Alderweireld and insiders from the club will know his true intention, but if he does eventually leave Pochettino will need to make a signing which matches the genius of the decision to bring him to north London from Atletico Madrid.

With that said, Pochettino would be wise to turn his attention towards one of the stars of the World Cup, namely Benjamin Pavard.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Pavard has an exit fee in his current contract with Stuggart which will make him available for €35 million (£31.4 million) in the summer of 2019.

If those reports prove to be true, Tottenham simply cannot sleep on an opportunity as mouthwatering as that. Pavard is one of the most promising defenders in world football, boasting an enviable set of physical and technical attributes which would instantly make him a fan favourite at Tottenham.

Spurs haven't yet managed to sign a defender matching Alderweireld's calibre since he arrived at the club, partly in consequence of the excellence of Jan Vertonghen in central defence.

Davinson Sanchez may well prove to be as exceptional as Alderweireld in the years to come, but there is something special about Pavard which hints at a future beyond the capabilities of the Colombian.

The 22-year-old Frenchman is versatile, excellent in possession, intelligent and incredibly consistent, so Pochettino must do everything in his power to convince Daniel Levy to open his chequebook for Pavard in an exceptional value for money deal.

Tottenham fans - thoughts? Let us know below!