As reported by Evening Standard, Ajax coach Erik ten Haag has hinted that the club could make an effort to bring back Jan Vertonghen to Amsterdam in the summer. “Jan has a history at Ajax, Of course, we are following his situation very closely”, ten Haag told Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport.
“There is no question of any age limit here. If someone is good enough, it doesn’t matter how old he is”, he added. Vertonghen’s current contract expires at the end of the season, and a move away from north London could be on the horizon.
Tottenham’s defensive woes this season
Tottenham have weirdly lacked the balance in their defensive unit this season. Under Mauricio Pochettino, it seemed that the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth were destined to make a significant impact in the Premier League.
On the contrary, however, Sanchez has struggled with a lack of consistency this season. In fairness, though, his performances have improved since the turn of the year. Foyth, meanwhile, has suffered from an injury for a chunk of the campaign. And even when the Argentine returned to full fitness, he wasn’t really favoured by Jose Mourinho.
Same can be said about Jan Vertonghen. The ageing Belgian has made only 16 starts so far, notably being sidelined for almost a month due to a muscle injury in November. It is also fair to point out that he has been deployed as left-back numerous times by Mourinho this season.
As a result, Toby Alderweireld has remained the only viable option for the Lilywhites. The former Atletico Madrid star has performed well, but it hasn’t been enough to reinstate the solidity Tottenham showed during the 2018/19 campaign.
Should they offload Jan Vertonghen next summer?
Vertonghen’s future at Tottenham Hotspur could solely depend on how the club performs in the summer transfer window. The Lilywhites are more than expected to invest in a new centre-back, having been linked with Nathan Ake, in particular, this season.
In fairness, however, it is probably time for the club to move on and let Vertonghen leave north London in the summer. He has enjoyed a fantastic time at Tottenham despite failing to win a competitive title. But, at the age of 32, he is unlikely to make a big impact in the first-team, especially if we consider his recent fitness problems.
Not to mention, the club is looking to usher in a new era under Mourinho. Vertonghen’s ageing presence, therefore, could appear like a stumbling block for youngsters like Tanganga from gaining a more prominent role in the first-team. Hence, Spurs should indeed let go of the Belgian this summer.
