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Spurs’ Four Options After Vertonghen’s Injury, Ranked

By Ryan Wrenn

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen (5) defends against MLS All Stars midfielder Graham Zusi (19) of Sporting Kansas City in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen (5) defends against MLS All Stars midfielder Graham Zusi (19) of Sporting Kansas City in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick /
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As the bliss surrounding Dele Alli’s goal begins to fade just a bit, the reality of the situation must begin to set in: Spurs could be short at the back after Jan Vertonghen limped off the pitch in the 74th minute.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on January 3, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on January 3, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

No announcement has been made yet about how severe the injury to Vertonghen’s injury was, though Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged in the post-match press confidence that the centre-back was still in pain. The club will likely be bracing for Vertonghen to be sidelined for at least a few weeks.

It’s difficult to overstate how much quality Spurs could lose if the Belgian finds himself out for any length of time. Along with his compatriot Toby Alderweireld, Vertonghen has started each and every match in Spurs’ Premier League season. He is a huge presence in the league’s best defense, and without him Spurs suddenly will have to scramble to come up with a way to fill his considerable void.

Though Hugo Lloris still wears the captain’s armband, Vertonghen’s leadership has been a key component of Spurs’ success this season, and that’s without even mentioning the Belgian’s considerable individual skillset. If Spurs do falter in the back – and that’s been rare so far this season – it’s Vertonghen who rallies the backline and helps it keep its shape.

What recourse do Spurs have should they be without Vertonghen? Let’s rank the four best options in order from most to least likely, beginning with Vertonghen’s replacement yesterday.

Next: Kevin Wimmer

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