Spurs’ Vertonghen Out for Eight Weeks

Scans have shown that Jan Vertonghen suffered damage to his medial knee ligament during Spurs’ visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday, an injury that could keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Vertonghen received the diagnosis in Barcelona while traveling with his team to a warm weather training camp in the city. He was seen in crutches as he walked with his teammates in and around the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Monday.

The Guardian reports that the player himself is pushing for five or six weeks, a timeline that would make him available for the home match against Arsenal on March 5th.

Prior to this injury, Vertonghen had been one of the most important components of Mauricio Pochettino’s much-improved Spurs squad. Along with fellow centre-back Toby Alderweireld, he helped form the core of defense that has only conceded 19 goals in 23 matches, enough to make Spurs the stingiest team in the league so far this season.

More from Hotspur HQ

• Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
• Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
• Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
• Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
• Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help

Vertonghen, Alderweireld, midfielder Eric Dier and striker Harry Kane have formed the team’s spine for the entirety of the season up to this point. All four are the only players to have started every single Premier League game this season, with the rest of the squad either succumbing to injuries or rotated on occasion.

The void left behind by Vertonghen will likely be filled for the time being by the man that replaced him on Saturday at Selhurst Park: Kevin Wimmer. That was the 23-year-old Austrian’s first Premier League appearance since arriving from FC Cologne in the summer, though he had featured for the club before in domestic cup competitions as well as the Europa League group stage.

While Wimmer is the clear choice at the moment, the severity of Vertonghen’s injury and the length of time that he’ll be out might force the club to reconsider. We reviewed the club’s four options to make up for the Belgian’s absence earlier in the week, but even those now feel inadequate after learning that Vertonghen could be out for two months.

Those months away won’t be peanuts, either. While the biggest challenge Spurs will face should be a trip to Manchester City on Valentine’s Day, that match comes home and away legs against Fiorentina in the Europa League’s Round of 32. Were he fit, Vertonghen would have likely featured in all three of those matches.

Spurs must also deal with the fact that beyond those three games are a dense set of fixtures in both the Premier League and, likely, the FA Cup. While Wimmer could be called upon before to sub in for Vertonghen when needed, there’s no clear option of who will fill his role on the bench if he’s promoted to the starting centre-back role.

Next: Spurs Transfer Rumors: Loan for Jean-Kevin Augustin is Rejected

The club reportedly continues to find ways to rid itself of Federico Fazio by the conclusion of the January transfer window, so who the club turn to next is still very much up for debate.

Saturday’s match against League One’s Colchester United might be the first hint of what the club’s plans are going forward. Typically Wimmer would start in that match, but if he is indeed the heir to Vertonghen’s place in the first team, there might be some movement upwards from the academy.