Jan Vertonghen’s quality is now becoming his downfall apparently, as he has again told Andre Villas-Boas that he isn’t happy playing at left-back. The fact that he is equally adept at either full-back or centre-half means that he has often found himself in the wide area while Michael Dawson and Vlad Chiriches operate in the middle. However, the same reports say that Spurs are competing with Manchester United for Fabio Coentrao.
The Real Madrid man has a long and fruitful CV under his belt but is currently playing second fiddle to Brazilian Marcelo at the Bernabeu. He has played just four times in La Liga this season but has impressed with what he has done.
The 25-year-old has averaged 3.3 tackles per game and three clearances, as well as making a couple of key passes.
The fact that he is a Portugal international can’t harm the fact that he would be linking up with Portuguese boss Villas-Boas should he make the move to north London, either.
In his two previous seasons in the Spanish capital he has managed at least 30 games, but following interest in the summer when Gareth Bale went the opposite way, January could finally be the window that AVB lands the former Benfica defender.