Vertonghen ready to hand in transfer request to engineer Tottenham move

The Belgian centre-back has told Ajax that he is only interested in a move to Spurs this summer as chairman Daniel Levy flew into Amsterdam on Monday for crunch talks

 

 

EXCLUSIVEBy Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Jan Vertonghen is ready to hand in a transfer request to force through a move to Tottenham as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy holds crunch talks with Ajax in Amsterdam on Monday.

The defender has told his club that he is only interested in a move to White Hart Lane and wants the two teams to swiftly agree a fee.

The Belgian centre-back has already agreed personal terms with Spurs after a trip to London in which he was shown around their new training centre in Enfield and was a guest of the club at their last match of the season, a 2-0 home win over Fulham.

The move has hit a snag over the Dutch club’s £12.1 million asking price, although Goal.com understands that Ajax will accept £9.7m for a player who only has a year remaining on his contract.

Spurs have so far offered £8.1m for the defender, who was named Eredivisie Player of the Year for his outstanding contribution to Ajax’s title triumph.

It is believed that Vertonghen is prepared to hand in a transfer request in order to push through the deal if talks on Monday result in stalement and the two clubs cannot secure an agreement.

The 25-year-old has his heart set on a move to White Hart Lane and his mind has not been changed by events in Munich on Saturday night, when Chelsea’s Champions League triumph relegated Spurs to the Europa League next season.

Tottenham made an official move for the Belgian at the start of this month having failed with an attempt to sign him in January and Vertonghen has settled on the north Londoners because he believes that he will be able to play more regularly in his favourite centre-back position for a Champions League-calibre club.

"Vertonghen has settled on the north Londoners because he believes that he will be able to play more regularly in his favourite centre-back position"

Manager Harry Redknapp considers the defender a key part of his plans for next season and a long-term replacement for club captain Ledley King, who suffers from ongoing knee problems.

“Tottenham are absolutely my favourite," the defender told De Telegraaf earlier this month. "Tottenham is a fantastic football club that has the tradition I want. They buy young, eager, offensive-minded players.

“[But] the Ajax board are asking for a very big amount for a player whose contract is running out in year.

“I trust that both Tottenham and Ajax will put some water in the wine and they will soon reach an agreement."



Source : Goal.com