Pundit claims Spurs star is likely to leave at the end of the season

Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown feels Jan Vertonghen’s time in North London is coming to an end.

The central defender is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with clubs on the continent including a return to Ajax (De Telegraaf) as well as a move to Inter Milan (Standard).

He has played a bit-part role this season and has had to watch Jose Mourinho instead handing defensive opportunities to Japhet Tanganga and Eric Dier.

When Vertonghen has been handed chances he has at times struggled, notably in the FA Cup replay against Southampton with the experienced defender having often looked a shadow of the player he was a few years ago.

He started at left-back in the FA Cup clash against Norwich on Wednesday and scored through a thumping header to give Spurs the lead early on, only for the side to lose on penalties.

Brown feels that the Belgian international will end his time in N17 at the end of the campaign after joining from Ajax in 2012.

When asked if Vertonghen is remain at the club beyond this season, Brown told Football Insider: “It’s not looking likely, it’s definitely not looking likely that he’s going to stay.

“Who’s better out there [in the market]? Mourinho’s put him in and then he’s taken him out of the team.”

The former midfielder also claimed that the issues Spurs have had concerning player contracts this season are due to the club’s tight wage structure.

Brown added: “All this uncertainty at Spurs, over contract issues, where they all go, who’s going to be there, who’s not going to be there – because that pay grade’s slightly lower than other top clubs, they’ve tried to increase it, tried to get better, so everyone’s got that uncertainty.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I actually that Vertonghen was quite good on Wednesday both defensively as well as in the few occasions that he went forward. You could see from his celebration to the goal that it meant a lot to him and I believe he will fight to get a new contract. I certainly would it put it beyond him to have a strong end to the season given what he’s achieved in his career so far.

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