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.
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
1. Kevin Wimmer
The most obvious way to make up for Vertonghen’s absence is to turn to the man Pochettino called onto the field on Saturday as the Belgian departed. Kevin Wimmer arrived at Spurs over the summer to provide exactly this kind of cover should either Vertonghen or Alderweireld go down, if not also compete for a shot in the starting XI himself.
Wimmer spent two seasons as a regular starter with FC Cologne in Germany – the first in the club’s promotion campaign and the second in the Bundesliga proper – before making the switch to Spurs, so this wouldn’t be the first time the 23-year-old has been relied upon. While Saturday was his first taste of the Premier League, he had previously started five other matches in the Europa League and domestic cups.
He’s acquitted himself well enough in those chances to likely earn the starting spot alongside Alderweireld for however long Vertonghen might be out. Pochettino might take some solace that Spurs’ next two Premier League matches are away and home fixtures against Norwich and Watford respectively. With a trip to Manchester City following those matches, though, Pochettino will have to hope that those two games will be a long enough time for Wimmer to find his feet in the league.
Next: Eric Dier
2. Eric Dier
On the surface this seems like the best move. Dier actually spent part of his first season with the club at centre-back, after all, and could easily slot into Vertonghen’s spot should he be called upon. He might not be Vertonghen’s equal, but he at least has Premier League experience with Spurs.
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The problem with that logic is obvious. Pochettino’s re-deployment of Dier in holding midfield has been one of – if not the – most important improvement in Spurs’ defense this term. His shielding of the backline resolved one of the biggest problem areas at Spurs over the last few seasons, he often acts as the base upon which the team’s efforts in attack are built, and his excellent partnership with Mousa Dembélé has only just begun again after Belgian’s brief absence through injury. That’s no easy decision to strip the team of those qualities.
Moving Dier to central defense would also mean that the rest of the starting XI would have to adjust to two changes in defense rather than just one. It’s a safe bet that Pochettino would be unlikely to take that risk if he doesn’t absolutely have to.
Next: The Transfer Market
3. The Transfer Market
If there’s some small bit of fortune in Vertonghen’s injury, it’s that it occurred with another week still left in the January transfer window. Should Pochettino think he needs more experienced cover than Wimmer he still has a chance to go out and acquire it.
The only problem here is that whatever cover is available, it won’t come without significant problems for Spurs. To ask another team in England or in Europe to part with a player of sufficient enough quality to make up for Vertonghen’s absence isn’t easy. Even if some club were to agree to a move, it wouldn’t come cheap.
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Beyond price, Pochettino wound also have to contend with the fact that whomever comes in will have to be content with the idea that they’ll likely be dropped the second Vertonghen is healthy enough to start again.
In short: panic buys are not this modern Tottenham team’s style. Maybe this increases the club’s desire to pursue some younger defensive talent, but there’s little to no chance they make moves for an experienced – and expensive – player.
Next: The Academy
4. The Academy
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.