Agent suggests club’s approach for Spurs star could be a smokescreen

Football agent, Massimo Brtambati, has suggested to the Italian press that Roma’s interest in Tottenham star Jan Vertonghen may not be concrete.

Multiple reports have indicated that the Belgian international is unlikely to sign an extension with Spurs and is thus on his way out of North London this summer (Football Insider).

Several clubs from Italy and Spain have been credited with an interest in the Spurs star (Calcio Mercato), with Real Betis (Daily Star) and Inter Milan (Calcio Mercato) said to be willing to offer the defender a two-year deal.

Contradictory reports have emerged about Roma’s pursuit of the 33-year-old as TuttoMercatoWeb (via The Express) initially reported that the club were unwilling to meet Vertonghen’s wage demands.

However, Corriere dello Sport (via SempreInter) claimed this week that the Serie A side were in fact willing to give in to the defender’s demands.

Brambati has now claimed that Roma may be using Vertonghen in order to secure Torino defender Nicolas Nkoulou, who he believes is the club’s main target.

When asked about Giallorossi’s interest in the Belgian, Brambati told Tutto Mercato Web: “They want to satisfy Fonseca for a three-man defence, but I know that Petrachi has not let go of Torino’s Nkoulou, whose contract will expire next month.

“Maybe they are manoeuvring to lower Torino’s demands.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Given that this is likely to be Vertonghen’s last big contract, the defender is not only going to demand playing time but also a decent salary, along with a possible signing off fee. Given how in-demand free agents are likely to be this summer, he is certainly going to get some lucrative offers. I doubt he will go to Roma as they generally don’t tend to pay big wages as the likes of Inter do.

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