Belgium international Jan Vertonghen has revealed his ambition to sign a new long-term contract with Tottenham Hotspur. The 31-year-old is currently the longest serving continuous member of the Spurs squad and speaking to Evening Standard, he has admitted his desire to remain with the north London club beyond the summer of 2020.
Speaking to the publication, he said:“I’ve got a contract until 2020 – there’s an option and Tottenham will take that option. So I’ve got a year and a half left and then we’ll see. The way I feel now, I’ve got at least four to five good years left in the tank. There are no talks, but that’s something to discuss. At the moment I feel great at Tottenham. It’s a club with unbelievable potential – not just the players but everything around it. Everyone wants to be part of it.”
Vertonghen had approached the final year of his Spurs contract during the summer but the club managed to extend his stay by another 12 months after triggering the extension clause available. Nonetheless, the defender appears keen on committing to another long-term contract with a view to potentially seeing out the remainder of his career with the Capital outfit.
Meanwhile, Vertonghen’s compatriot Toby Alderweireld does not seem to hold the same ambition after already snubbing a £120,000-a-week contract with the club. The Belgium international has demanded a £200,000-a-week deal, which Spurs remain reluctant to offer, and this may probably witness his departure in either January or at the end of the season.
Like Vertonghen, Spurs are understood to have triggered a 12-month option on Alderweireld’s contract but they face the prospect of losing him at a lesser price, should he stay put beyond the current campaign. The Belgian’s present deal has a £25m release clause which would become activate during the final two weeks of next summer’s transfer window.
