Tottenham hero Jan Vertonghen has hailed Ajax star and reported Spurs target Ryan Gravenberch for his role in last night’s 5-1 Champions League thumping of Sporting Lisbon, in quotes reported by Voetbal Primeur.
Well, that was one in the eye for West Ham United wasn’t it?
Heck, even Vincent Janssen and Afonso Alves scored goals for fun in Holland.
But finding the net against RKC Waalwijk and Heracles Almelo is one thing, netting four times on the Champions League stage – against a Sporting Lisbon side that won the Portuguese title without losing a game last season – is another matter entirely.
Could Spurs target Gravenberch succeed where Haller failed in England?
Last night Haller became only the second player in UCL history – after the legendary Marco van Basten no less – to score four goals on his tournament debut during a crushing victory at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
But the £45 million West Ham misfit can’t take all the credit.
The electrifying Antony created three of his efforts while Steven Berghuis also got in on the act, scoring the game’s ‘other’ goal after being set up beautifully by a man who was linked this week with West Ham’s rivals from a few miles down the road.
“The first half hour was incredible. I really enjoyed it,” beams Vertonghen, the former Spurs and Ajax stopper now plying his trade at Benfica.
“What struck me? How good Ajax actually are. Antony is always a fun player to watch, Jurrien Timber is doing an incredible job, Devyne Rensch is a great footballer, Gravenberch… I can keep going.”
Gravenberch, the rangy, balletic 19-year-old who has been dubbed a “better version than Paul Pogba”, is guaranteed to be a man in high demand when next summer rolls around.
According to Calciomercato, Spurs’ director of football Fabio Paratici is planning a bid as he looks to beat old employers Juventus to the £26 million wonder kid.
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