Jan Vertonghen has been an important player for Tottenham during his career with Spurs, but does that mean they should re-sign the 32-year-old?
Tottenham are faced with the prospect of losing several high-profile stars for free at the end of this season. Jan Vertonghen’s contract situation presents Spurs with a very interesting dilemma.
The 32-year-old Belgian has made it clear that he’s perfectly relaxed about his contract status at the moment. Per The Express, he’s willing to discuss new terms with Tottenham but his return to the North London club next season is far from a certainty. If he does elect to move on, he’ll have plenty of suitors all across Europe.
That doesn’t mean Mauricio Pochettino and company should rush to meet his every contract demand. He certainly deserves to be a member of the club’s starting XI at the moment, but his age should limit the contract Tottenham are willing to offer him. The issue with any new deal for Vertonghen should deal with total years as opposed to wages.
In an ideal world, Spurs could tie Vertonghen up with another two-year deal. That would take him to his age-34 season. Some centre backs continue to play at a high level well into their 30s, but that isn’t something Tottenham officials should be willing to bet on. It’s much more likely that Vertonghen’s skills are going to start to diminish pretty quickly within the next 12-18 months.
If Vertonghen isn’t willing to take a short-term extension with Tottenham, then Spurs must make the painful decision to let him go. Fortunately, Pochettino already has several young, high-quality central defenders ready to step in and assume a regular place in the starting XI. Both Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth are well thought of by officials at Hotspur Way. It’s even possible that Ben Davies‘ long-term future at the club lies at centre back instead of on the left flank.
Tying Jan Vertonghen down to a new contract should be a priority for Tottenham officials, but they should set very clear limits on how long they’re willing to commit to the talented Belgian. Any deal that allows him to cash in at age 35 or higher would be a rare negotiating mistake by Daniel Levy and company.