Tottenham Hotspur are experiencing a troubled start to the campaign. The Champions League finalists have won just one of their four Premier League matches so far. They most recently drew with Arsenal despite being two goals up – a performance that showcased their shortcomings in the defensive department.
As a result, there have been question marks as to whether or not Spurs should move on from veteran defender Jan Vertonghen. In this article, we will look at the prospects of the 32-year-old centre-back, who is at the final phase of his career.
Injuries and lack of game-time
Vertonghen has been an ever-present figure in the Tottenham backline for a long-time. However, the Belgian international has faced numerous fitness problems over the past 12 months.
Just to put things into perspective, the defender mustered only 1,914 minutes of league football last term, which is fewer than any other season as a Tottenham player. His overall game-time was minimised mainly due to two different spells of hamstring injuries that kept him out for a total of almost 100 days.
And at the age of 32, Vertonghen’s struggles in keeping up as the first-team regular for Spurs is likely to increase, especially given the athletic nature of the Premier League.
Viable alternatives
One of the main reasons why Tottenham should move on from Vertonghen is that they have viable alternatives, who are ready to take on the mantle of regular senior football. Davinson Sanchez, in particular, has already become a vital member of the squad, notably mustering more minutes than Vertonghen last season, albeit marginally. The Colombian international does lack concentration, at times. But, he is still a quality defender, who could become the face of the Spurs defence within the coming years.
Another option is Juan Foyth. The Argentine made quite an impression last season and is tipped to become a vital member of the Spurs backline this term. He is, however, nursing an ankle injury at the moment.
Foyth, much like Vertonghen, is a versatile defender. He can play not only as a centre-back but also a right-back. The 21-year-old is quite good with the ball at his feet as well and could be groomed into an ideal replacement for the Belgian.
Expiring contract
Vertonghen’s current deal at the club expires at the end of this season. He joins Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen as players, whose contract will come to an end next summer, meaning Tottenham are running the risk of losing them for free.
However, Eriksen is regarded as one of the best playmakers in the world. And the Lilywhites should try their best to tie the Dane to a new contract. Also, Mirror reported earlier this summer that Spurs are also interested in starting new contract talks with Alderweireld. That makes sense as the ex-Atleti star is one of the best defenders in the league and has loads of experience.
Same cannot be said for Vertonghen, even though he is still a quality defender. As mentioned earlier, his influence has waned over the past couple of years, and it would perhaps be wiser for the north London giants to let go of him next summer. They should instead look for a replacement on the market in their bid to add more depth to the defensive department.
