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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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4. The Academy

ALDERSHOT, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: Milos Veljkovic of Spurs celebrates scoring the teams second goal with team mates during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur U21 and Chelsea U21at The Recreation Ground on October 30, 2015 in Aldershot, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
ALDERSHOT, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: Milos Veljkovic of Spurs celebrates scoring the teams second goal with team mates during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur U21 and Chelsea U21at The Recreation Ground on October 30, 2015 in Aldershot, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

Prior to Vertonghen’s injury, it was thought that Federico Fazio already had both feet firmly outside the door. Only an insufficient bid from the Argentine’s former club Sevilla prevented him from being sold earlier in the window, should rumors be believed, and there remains a good amount of interest from other Premier League outfits.

With Vertonghen’s injury though, Pochettino has a good reason to hold onto the centre-back at least until the summer. He might not be a good fit for this team – and likely never was – but someone needs to fill Wimmer’s spot on the bench.

There is another option, however. Spurs could turn to their vaunted academy.

Miloš Veljković continues to captain Spurs’ under-21 side despite declining to sign the new contract the club offered him in the fall. Prior to that he had long been presumed to be among the next academy products to be promoted to the first team. Alderweireld and Wimmer’s arrival in the summer have limited his chances at breaking through however, and the 20-year-old has recently been linked with moves back to his native Serbia or perhaps Portugal.

Next: Spurs' Mauricio Pochettino Isn't Looking for Normal Players

If Veljković can be enticed with a chance to impress in, say, next weekend’s FA Cup match against Colchester United, perhaps there’s a chance for him to stay on until his contract expires in the summer. He would almost surely be the better option for Spurs than Fazio, plus it gives the club another chance to tempt him with a new contract.

United States international Cameron Carter-Vickers might also be considered for a promotion, though at 18-years-old he might still be too raw for a chance on the first team.

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