Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to sell Jan Vertonghen in the January transfer window, per Football Insider.
What’s he said?
Vertonghen’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he could leave on a free transfer in the summer.
The Belgium international remains a key member of Jose Mourinho’s squad and has made 18 appearances in all competitions.
However, Robinson is wary of Vertonghen leaving for nothing and has urged Spurs to cash in this month.
He said: “I’m a big believer in not letting players run down until the last three or four months of their contract.
“If there’s any way of getting some financial reward or remuneration for them in January, then I would do so, rather than letting him run down his contract. Anything is better than nothing.
“He’s able to sign a pre-agreement now with foreign clubs but that gives the player the power and to be in that position is difficult.
“If I was in charge of the club or of contracts as such, I wouldn’t want a player of that kind of ilk going into the last three or four months and giving him the opportunity to leave for nothing.
“You could at least get something back for him.”
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Hands are tied
Vertonghen’s destiny is in his own hands.
He has no need to pursue a move this month and, while Robinson is absolutely right, there isn’t a great deal of movement available for chairman Daniel Levy and manager Jose Mourinho.
Sources have told Football FanCast that the club are attempting to negotiate a new contract with Vertonghen, with Mourinho previously hinting that his agent is holding up talks.
That makes sense, too, and really, Spurs are at the mercy of the 32-year-old.
He could just as well snub a move this month if the club do take Robinson’s advice, and that, ultimately, is a failure of Levy.
He has allowed the defender’s contract to run down and, now, his hands are tied. He simply has to hope for the best.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has made a huge transfer demand.