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Discover how Tottenham will cope with Vertonghen injury

By Rucker Haringey

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen of Belgium look dejected after the international friendly match between Belgium and Colombia at King Badouin stadium on November 14, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. The match between Belgium and Colombiaended 0-2.(Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen of Belgium look dejected after the international friendly match between Belgium and Colombia at King Badouin stadium on November 14, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. The match between Belgium and Colombiaended 0-2.(Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham centre-back Jan Vertonghen won’t be ready for the start of the club’s regular season. Read how Spurs will cope with his absence.

Tottenham will certainly miss Jan Vertonghen at the start of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, but don’t expect his absence to change much for Spurs this summer. The club already knows just how it can deal with the star Belgian’s absence.

Reports from England claim that Vertonghen will miss between six and eight weeks after injuring his ankle on international duty for Belgium in Euro 2016. It’s certainly not an ideal scenario for a Tottenham side looking to get off to a fast start next year, but it’s not a disaster in North London either.

In a strange way, Vertonghen might be the Tottenham starter that the club can most afford to lose for a short period of time. After all, he missed time down the stretch for Spurs last year, but the club’s back four didn’t miss a bit.

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The reason for the club’s ability to cope with Vertonghen’s absence is the presence of Kevin Wimmer. The Austrian international may not have been a regular member of his nation’s starting 11 during the Euros, but he showed his ability in the Premier League for Tottenham last season.

He was excellent in Vertonghen’s absence last season despite limited opportunities before the Belgian’s injury. He is the perfect, left-footed, left-sided centre back to partner with Toby Alderweireld in Mauricio Pochettino’s back four. There is some drop-off between Super Jan and Wimmer, but it isn’t enough to cost Tottenham many points over such a short period of time.

Many pundits will suggest that Vertonghen’s injury is going to force Tottenham into the market for another central defender this summer. The reality is that Daniel Levy and company were already interested in quite a few central defender targets. Most recently, the club has been linked strongly with Iceland international Ragnar Sigurdsson. Their interest in the Icelandic star has nothing to do with Vertonghen’s ankle.

Tottenham have been looking for a right-footed central defender to provide cover for Alderweireld all summer. Tottenham’s “other” Belgian was outstanding last season and didn’t miss any time for the club. Pochettino and company are wise to make sure they purchase a new, right-footed back-up to cover for Alderweireld upon occasion.

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Jan Vertonghen’s injury is an unfortunate blow for Tottenham, but it isn’t going to drastically change anything the club does this summer. Count on Kevin Wimmer to once again slide into the club’s starting 11 and more than hold his own.

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