Monday, 10th June, 2013
Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen is playing an unofficial public-relations role for the Premier League to tempt fellow Belgians in Nacer Chadli and Toby Alderweireld into making the move to England.
Vertonghen took the step up from Eredivisie club Ajax, where Alderweireld currently plays, to Spurs in July last year, and has since become an integral part of the team with 34 league appearances and five goals.
The centre-back was even named in the PFA’s Team of the Year, and Vertonghen is adamant the duo are ready to follow in his footsteps.
He told Dutch daily De Telegraaf: "Toby’s qualities, of course, I know very well and he fits just fine. And Nacer is an incredible player."
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FC Twente winger Chadli has long expressed a desire to play Champions League football, and his club’s refusal to sell him to Eredivisie rivals means a move to either Liverpool or Spurs is a real possibility.
The two Premier League sides are also vying for Alderweireld’s attention, but added to the list are Arsenal and Newcastle with Serie A outfit Roma also in the mix.
Both players’ skills were on show on their respective defensive flanks in Friday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Serbia, which the Belgians won 2-1.
And Vertonghen added: "They are two players who can absolutely handle things at the top level and I hope that they can make the step. This summer they are ready for it."
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