Jan Vertonghen and Tottenham Working on a New Deal
Jan Vertonghen could be the next Tottenham player to sign a long-term deal.
Yesterday, Mauricio Pochettino made it clear that there would be no new developments on the contract extension front. Though that didn’t mean negotiations couldn’t continue.
With Jan Vertonghen’s contract expiring at the end of the season, it makes sense to offer a new long-term deal for the Belgian international.
Even at the age of 29, Vertonghen is still playing at a high level. Playing alongside Toby Alderweireld since the start of last season has certainly helped and although Alderweireld is clearly the top center-back in Pochettino’s squad, Vertonghen is certainly number two on the team’s depth chart.
According to the Evening Standard, Jan Vertonghen’s salary is at £40,000-per-week. That’s not too high but it is quite low, which suggests he’s right in the middle of Tottenham’s wage book.
There are no details on how much the Belgian defender would want in terms of a pay raise. Though it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him ask for around £60,000 a week to fit along with some of the other veteran players on the squad like Mousa Dembélé and Hugo Lloris.
More from Tottenham News
- 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
While an extension appears to be nearing its completion, the Evening Standard believes there has been some tension between Mauricio Pochettino and Jan Vertonghen which may have played a part in protracted talks.
Spurs’ 2-1 loss to AS Monaco in the Champions League didn’t sit well with the Argentine manager, where he was very critical of how his team played in the first half.
Because they trailed 2-1 to end the first 45 minutes, it was difficult to mount a comeback with the Ligue 1 club reluctant to add another goal and instead sit back and absorb pressure for the rest of the game.
Now, whether Pochettino’s remarks of his team’s performance were directed towards Vertonghen at one point or another — seeing as how both of Monaco’s goals happened around the Belgian’s vicinity — perhaps it affected a new deal happening last month when Spurs secured eight players to extensions.
Seeing as how Vertonghen’s contract is running out, it’s a little surprising that he has yet to receive a new contract himself.
Of course, the Evening Standard says that both the club and Vertonghen have been steadily making progress during negotiations. So it’s not like the Belgian international isn’t in Pochettino’s plans.
Although Cameron Carter-Vickers got an extension before Jan Vertonghen that doesn’t necessarily mean Pochettino sees the 18-year-old as a better defender than his Belgian counterpart. Rather, Carter-Vickers has improved over the years under Pochettino’s watch and shined in pre-season against stiff competition from three of Europe’s elite clubs — Juventus, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan.
Next: Three Tactical Tweaks: West Brom v Tottenham
Should Tottenham resume contract extensions and Jan Vertonghen isn’t one of the players signed long term, then that would be alarming.
Since Spurs have had both Vertonghen and Alderweireld at central defense, Tottenham have boasted the Premier League’s best defense last year and once again to begin this season.
Kevin Wimmer and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both talented defenders in their own rights, but losing a key veteran such as Vertonghen would be bad only if the 29-year-old can no longer play at a high level. And at the moment he still can.