Vertongen makes contract admission ahead of Bayern game

Tottenham defender Jan Vertongen has hinted he could sign a new contract and says he is “feeling great in every single way”.

The 32-year-old is in the final year of his current deal and is yet to agree fresh terms, despite saying in the past he would be keen to stay at Spurs.

Vertonghen, speaking on the eve of his side’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, was coy when asked whether he was in negotiations with the club, only revealing that there was “some movement”.

He was, however, more forthcoming on his desire to stay at the club for as long as possible.

“I would prefer not to go too deep into that (contract talks), but there is always some movement,” the Belgium defender said.

“It is my eighth season here, I have had a great past and I am feeling great at the moment in every single way here, that is all I want to say about that.

“I am very aware of my age but my body is not because I am feeling good and I feel fairly young, it doesn’t distract me, I want to play as many games as I can at the highest level.

“I am very ambitious, I feel like I have a couple of good years left in me. I hope I can help the team for as long as I can.”

Boss Mauricio Pochettino left Vertonghen out of the side for the first three games of the season, though insisted that had nothing to do with the contract situation.

Vertonghen has always been one of Pochettino’s main men during the last six years and that has not changed.

“I am open to everything, but that is a dealing between the club, him and his agent,” Pochettino said.

“Let’s see what happens. Jan after five years that we are all together, is always an important part of my project. That feeling isn’t going to change.”

Meanwhile, Bayern head coach Niko Kovac believes Tottenham’s development under Pochettino has made them a “positive light” of European football.

Pochettino has turned them from Europa League also-rans into European Cup finalists and that has not gone unnoticed by the Croatian, who admits coming to watch a Spurs game three years ago.

“It is a very, very positive development,” the Croatian said. “In 2016 I was here and they were in the old stadium, I was here to watch Tottenham against Swansea, the flair was different, the stadium was smaller, but the atmosphere
was strong.

“You can see what it means when you have a good coach, a good manager.

“In my opinion Tottenham have a very positive light in European football, they are now able to compete with the very big teams, even if it didn’t look that way seven or eight years ago.

“They have continuity, he was given time and he has done a great job and that is an example for others. It is definitely going to be a game with level footing, when you look at the players from both teams they are all world class from different countries.”