Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are still Tottenham’s best centre backs at the moment, but Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to change them both.
Mauricio Pochettino isn’t a manager who is afraid to make controversial personnel changes. That’s an important quality for the Argentine gaffer. Spurs are set to offload two fan favourites as a part of a massive transition at centre back.
Both Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are playing on the final year of their respective contracts with the club. The chances of either returning next season seem to be dwindling by the day.
According to The Daily Mail, Vertonghen has been left “fuming” after Pochettino’s decision to leave him out of the starting XI against Aston Villa. Confrontations between the talented centre back and his manager aren’t anything new, but at some point it’s going to permanently fracture their relationship. It’s easy to envision a scenario where Vertonghen elects to move to a club with a less confrontational manager when the 2019/20 season ends.
Alderweireld and Pochettino are getting along well at the moment, but officials at the club are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of him leaving for free at the end of this season. The Mirror reports that the talented Belgian is only focused on his football at the moment, but his lack of interest in signing a new deal with Spurs is concerning for officials in North London.
Losing Alderweireld and Vertonghen would definitely deal a blow to Pochettino’s squad, but the club deserves credit for preparing for their eventual departures in advance. Spurs have already begun the process of bedding in new centre backs who are capable of developing into Premier League stars.
Davinson Sanchez took Vertonghen’s place in the starting XI against Villa and the club have really high hopes for his continued development. He’s already an accomplished Colombian international, but it’s easy to forget he’s still just 23-years-old. The fact that he’s still four or five years away from his prime as a central defender bodes really well for Tottenham’s future.
His likely partner at centre back is even younger. Juan Foyth may play a lot of right back for Spurs this season, but the 21-year-old will almost certainly settle in at centre back when he gets a little older. His ability to play the ball at his feet with style and grace is a great compliment to Sanchez’s bruising, athletic style.
Tottenham would love to find a way to keep Vertonghen and Alderweireld for another year or two, but no one at Hotspur Way is going to panic if they leave. The partnership of Sanchez and Foyth has the potential to become the best central defending pairing in England. The future of Tottenham’s defence is in excellent hands.