Jan Vertonghen: Tottenham are an amazing club

[aws_young]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...ttenham-are-an-amazing-club-i-want-to-play-in

'Tottenham are an amazing club & I want to play in the Premier League' - Spurs target Jan Vertonghen

By Greg Stobart

Ajax star Jan Vertonghen has described Tottenham as an “amazing club” and spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League next season.

Goal.com understands Spurs are leading a host of English clubs in the race to sign Vertonghen and held talks with Ajax over a move for the £10 million-rated defender in January.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was in the stands to watch Vertonghen during Ajax’s Europa League clash against Manchester United on Thursday night - and the 24-year-old made it clear after the game that he would welcome a move to White Hart Lane.

“I think Tottenham are an amazing club and you see how well they are doing this season,”

Vertonghen told Goal.com. “They are in the top three in England and that’s where I want to play.

“I can’t say anything about whether there has been contact about a transfer but I think my game can be suited to English football.

“I love the atmosphere and it has the best players in the world, it breathes football. It’s one of my goals to play in the best leagues and against the best players.

“It’s the only competition I watch apart from Barcelona.”

Vertonghen, the Ajax captain, is also a target for Newcastle United and Arsenal while Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is a long-term admirer.

The versatile defender admits his international team-mates - including City captain Vincent Kompany and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen - are constantly in his ear trying to influence his decision on his future.

“A lot of my colleagues from the national team play here and some are calling me to come,” Vertonghen added.

“It’s a beautiful competition, the best in my opinion. I hope one day I can play in the Premier League with this atmosphere.

“To play for a team in the Premier League would be amazing and that’s what I am going for.

“It’s flattering to be linked with clubs, the rumours give me confidence but I just try to do my best every game.”

One player who is unlikely to sway Vertonghen’s thoughts is Belgium team-mate Eden Hazard, the £30m-rated Lille star who is also a target for Tottenham.

Vertonghen admits it would be “nice” to play with Hazard but the two are not close friends as the Ajax man speaks Flemish and does not communicate with the winger in the same language.

“I read that Tottenham might sign Eden Hazard,” Vertonghen said. “It would be nice to play with him but he speaks a different language to me. He speaks French.”

While Vertonghen is almost certain to leave Ajax this summer, he believes another Premier League target, Christian Eriksen, should stay at the Amsterdam ArenA for another season.

The Dane has been linked with a number of leading European clubs including Manchester United but Vertonghen has urged the playmaker not to rush into a hasty exit.

“Maybe for Christian it’s better to stay one more year and he can learn something, be the leader in the field for Ajax one day,” Vertonghen added. “I hope he stays one more year at least.

“Christian is a clever guy and he will leave at the right moment.”

Source

Interesting quotes indeed. Greg Stobart said on his Twitter last night that he spoke to Vertonghen after the United-Ajax game last night, so these are straight for the horse's mouth.

 

[CJMurray]

Sign him up now. Do it. Him and Kaboul would be the best technical partnership in the league whilst both being strong solid players.

 

[Gbspurs]

Might as well stamp this one now. It's looking good and also looking like we might wrap up our business early

 

[ryantegan]

From the vibe I got this morning and the build up to last night










I'd get the stamp

 

[donny1013]

How are Belgium not doing better internationally? Really hope we sign Vertonghen, will suit the EPL as well as Vermaelen has.

 

[felmani26]

Slightly off tangent but this could be a golden age for Belgium with Courtois, Vertonghen, Kompany, Vermaelen, Hazard, Dembele, Witsel, De Bruyne and Lukaku - very bright indeed!

Back to the main point though and it's certainly encouraging comments and would it really be outside the realms of possibility of a double swoop for Hazard and Vertonghen?

 

[Spurger King]

I won't pretend to know much about him, because I don't...but you don't get to captain a club like Ajax unless you're a talented player, and I'd like to think it would help our chances of signing Hazard.

 

[Spurvert]

He will be a very solid player in the Prem. Very solid indeed.

I've said this for a while now and I still believe he will be at Spurs come next season

 

[Twizzle]

this guy is hot property

I got a mate who is a Bayern fan and says they are hopeful of getting him, got another mate who is a Roma fan who is also hopeful of getting him

could be a bidding war

 

[Blake Griffin]

left footed, a leader, comfortable on the ball, fairly young, apparently wants to join, won't cost an absolute fortune.

can write this one off then :wink:

 

[kazzah9]

You know this will end up like the hazard thread

 

[oskathegobshite]

yiddo

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I like the look of this kid a lot. Would be really pleased of we could sign him. Can't help wishing we had in January though. There's a few teams need rebuilding around europe right now with more financial muscle than us.

 

[ryantegan]

Harry said united were interested as well.

Seemed like we are well in the hunt

 

[edson]

He reminds me of Philip Albert of Newcastle, one of my favourite CB to play in the Prem.

 

[kaz Hirai]

hmm you never know with european CBs when they come to the prem league, hopefully he adapts if we sign him

 

[ThorntonSpur]

verghtoghen kABoul colker with king dawson gallas nelson as expereince good line at cb

 

[venablesphil]

Well aren't we getting popular!

Here we have the second player in the space of a couple of weeks to link themselves to our club.

Exciting times!

 

[ajspurs]

This lad is seriously impressive. Admittedly I've only seen him in this 2 games, but he oozes class. He'd probably be a starter in every PL side, except for us.

He played really well this evening. Looks the part.

Spurs trying to get a lot of top class talent in the last 12 months...if they get him, Damio and Hazard they could become genuine title contenders imo...

He was amazing tonight.

He would be a brilliant signing for Tottenham or Newcastle or Chelsea.

Yes i was impressed by him too, read the game very well at times i thought. Without him i think the game could have been easily over for Ajax in the first half when we were on top.

I think he would improve a fair few PL defences with performances like that, not seen much of him really though, so i don't want to get too carried away. But based upon last night i thought he was excellent.

United fans seem to like him.

 

[What Lies Beneath]

I think it's a done deal did u read the part where vertonghen says I read hazard going to spurs it would be nice to play with him , what does that say hmmm