Jan Vertonghen unsure over long-term Spurs future

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has admitted he is still unsure about whether or not he will remain at the club beyond this season.

The Belgium international has been one of Spurs’ most important players since joining from Ajax in 2012, helping them reach a first-ever Champions League final last season.

Vertonghen’s Spurs future: Five key things to know…

• Vertonghen joined Spurs from Ajax in 2012.
• Since then, he’s played 285 times for the club in all competitions.
• But the 32-year-old has entered the final year of his contract.
• He admitted he’s unsure what will happen beyond this season.
• But he insisted he’s happy at Spurs and also called on Toby Alderweireld to stay at the club.

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However, he is now entering the final year of his contract with the club and although Vertonghen feels in great physical shape, he will turn 33 before the end of the 2019/20 season and there are doubts about his future beyond then.

“I just want to focus on this year,” he said. “I know I have got one year left so I know a lot of questions will be asked.

“I have said it before, I am very happy at the club. The supporters have been great for me, the manager has improved me a lot and has a lot of confidence in me. I feel very good physically so I am not sure what is going to happen this year.

“I can only say I am happy where I am at and I feel the support from the manager, team-mates and the squad.”

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The future Vertonghen’s compatriot and centre-back partner, Toby Alderweireld, is equally up in the air having been linked with a number of clubs over the past 12 months, including Manchester United.

But with the summer transfer window winding down and the timescale for Alderweireld’s £25m release clause now passed, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the 30-year-old will depart north London, something Vertonghen is happy about.

“You never know [what will happen] but I have played for so many years with Toby,” he said. “He is a very good player and a great guy for the group. It is out of my hands but he is here now and I am happy with that.”

Spurs kick off their 2019/20 Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.