Jan Vertonghen confirms he wants Tottenham stay

By Dom Toner

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has confirmed he wants a long-term stay at the club and he can be the cornerstone of the defence ahead of the move to the new stadium.

The 31-year-old’s current deal with the north London club expires at the end of the season and Spurs will exercise a one-year option to extend it.

The Belgium international has revealed his current contract situation, before admitting that his ambition is to stay where he is.

“I’ve got a contract until 2020 — there’s an option and Tottenham will take that option,” Vertonghen told the Evening Standard.

“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 [with the club], 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.”

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Vertonghen, who earns £100,000-a-week (Spotrac), is one of the most experienced members of the dressing room and it’s a major boost that he intends to stick around the club.

It’s important that Mauricio Pochettino keeps the core nucleus of his squad ahead of the move to a new stadium, which has been put on hold further after the club confirmed the home fixture on 13 January against Manchester United will be at temporary home Wembley.

Vertonghen is still an elite performer in the Premier League and can be a key figure in the heart of defence over the next few years still, with more pressure falling on him if teammate Toby Alderweireld ends up leaving.

The centre-back is a real leader in the heart of defence and can have a major role to play in the progression of the team.