Toby Alderweireld handed Spurs a huge boost in December by signing a new contract, but fellow Belgian rock Jan Vertonghen has not yet followed suit.
That has unsurprisingly led many of us to believe that Vertonghen may well be walking away when his current deal expires at the end of the season.
Losing Vertonghen – who for a long time (but certainly not recently) formed 50% of the best central defensive partnership in the Premier League – would be a big blow.
But the 32-year-old is far from irreplaceable.
In fact, the Daily Star claim that Spurs may have already identified a transfer target who could replace Vertonghen.
That transfer target is Jack O’Connell, who has been outstanding for Sheffield United this season.
O’Connell has started all 23 of the Blades’ Premier League games, helping them to seventh place – two points above Spurs. Only Liverpool (14) have conceded fewer PL goals (22) than O’Connell and Co this term.
Not only is O’Connell, 25, younger and marginally quicker than Vertonghen. He is also very similar to him in terms of style of play, meanly he could possibly slot in alongside Alderweireld fairly seamlessly.
Both O’Connell and Vertonghen are tall, elegant, confident ball-playing centre-halves who are left-footed and prefer to operate on that side of a back four.
It is unclear how much money Sheffield United might demand for O’Connell, but his age means he is a player who would likely retain value for the next three years or so – which would be right up Daniel Levy’s street.
O’Connell was schooled in England at Blackburn Rovers, so his homegrown status would also be a pluspoint.
Whatever Maureen prefers.
I would rather keep verts. Got a few years in him left. Only at centre back though no more at left back.
Once again Verts should have been moved on and replaced. We are now making decisions on the run at the worst window to buy. No wonder there is a team of strangers on the pitch.
Can slot in beside Alderweireld — who is going to be with Spurs at least another half-season.
Marginally quicker than Vertonghen, a flying machine then.