Arsenal want the Belgian too, but reports have emerged that Tottenham have opened talks with the defender today- and a deal could all depend on Chelsea
24 hours ago it was Arsenal who seemed to be front runners to secure the signature of Jan Vertonghen.
Late last night the Mail reported that North London rivals Spurs had opened talks with Ajax over his signature.
Newcastle and Chelsea are also believed to be interested in the Belgian, who would link up with international teammate Vermaelen if he went to Arsenal.
With the race for a Champions League place evenly poised, we recommend that Vermaelen doesn’t sign his name on a piece of paper just yet.
It is also why Arsenal fans should not be too despondent that Spurs have stolen a march on them, and why Tottenham supporters should not get ahead of themselves either.
The defender is believed, like Belgian colleague Eden Hazard, to have his heart set on playing in the Premier League, and will be watching the final games of the season with interest.
Surely if Tottenham finish fifth then they have lost a major negotiating chip, and Newcastle would be able to play a bigger part in the transfer hunt.
Equally if Chelsea win the Champions League and make fourth place redundant, Vertonghen will see Arsenal or Chelsea as his only viable destinations.
Tonight’s Premier League matches will play a huge part in shaping how the table will finish. Right now Tottenham do have the upper hand on Newcastle, with Chelsea narrowly behind.
If Spurs win at Bolton and Newcastle lose, the Geordies will be more or less out of the race, courtesy of their shock loss to Wigan over the weekend, with Manchester City and Everton still to come.
Bolton will be no easy match for Tottenham, they are fighting for their lives, and the match will be an emotional one with Fabrice Muamba watching on from the stands.
A Tottenham slip up could cause them to lose momentum in the deal for Vertonghen. The worst case scenario for the transfer deal is that both Spurs and Newcastle lose, allowing Arsenal to open up a four point gap over the pair.
It would mean a win this weekend against Norwich would more or less secure Arsenal’s Champions League qualification once and for all, and allow them to steal in and make a play for the Belgian while Tottenham wait on their future.
Even if they secure fourth, Spurs will be forced to wait until May 19, the Champions League Final, to see if Chelsea are successful or not, and decide their fate.
That is in 17 days time. If Vertonghen wants to commit before then, he will be gambling on a team which may not make the Champions League. It is impossible for him to know for sure before then.
It is why Arsenal, in third, are in by far the best position to secure such a deal, and why Spurs should reflect further on just how they threw a position away which was theirs for the taking.
Talks may have been opened, but they are just the start of this transfer saga, which looks like being played out between the Premier League rivals for the duration of the next month.
image: © OliverN5
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