Huddersfield Town's Terence Kongolo could be offered an escape route by AZ Alkmaar

Kongolo is reportedly one of two English-based Dutchmen the Eredivise side are looking at, with Southampton's out-of-favour Wesley Hoedt, a former AZ academy product, an alternative.

The Terriers will be keen to move on Kongolo, one of a slew of players then-manager Danny Cowley felt were not suited to the Championship relegation battle they found themselves engulfed in.

Despite securing the club's place in next season's Championship, Cowley has since been sacked. But with the club's finances badly hit by the coronavirus, which has even forced them to pay back part of their parachute payment from the Premier League after relegation last summer, they are looking to rebuild their squad along cheaper and younger lines under new head coach Carlos Corberan.

Kongolo joined from Monaco in 2018, an initial loan being made permanent at a cost of £17.5m, and although he made 45 Premier League appearances, he was loaned to Fulham in January, picking up a season-ending foot injury in only his second appearance for the Cottagers.

AZ are in the market for another central defender with Stijn Wuytens having left for Lommel, and Pantelis Hatzidiakos injured. They are hoping to make a signing before this month's Champions League qualifiers, but wages could be a problem with both Kongolo and Hoedt.

Former Lazio defender Hoedt has spent the last two seasons on loan at Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp, and could be available on loan again.

In their circumstances Huddersfield would prefer to permanently cut ties with 26-year-old Kongolo.

The Terriers' two senior goalkeepers last season were both on loan, and they have been linked with Kamil Miazek, who Corberan worked with in his previous role as Leeds United's under-23 coach and Daniel Iversen, who impressed on loan at Rotherham United from Leicester City in League One last season, as replacements.