Everton must consider a free transfer for Tottenham Hotspur veteran Jan Vertonghen.
Jan Vertonghen dropped curtains on his illustrious Tottenham Hotspur career after seeing out his contract and becoming a free agent. The Belgian centre back spent 8 years in North London, marshalling the Spurs defence and becoming a mainstay in the team. Everton are in search of a centre back but with the deals of Gabriel Magalhaes and Jean-Clair Todibo dead, the Toffees must eye signing the Vertonghen.
The defence currently is awfully depleted, especially the centre-back spots. Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Yerry Mina are the only first team centre backs. Jarrad Branthwaite has put in a tremendous shift in absence of Holgate and Mina but he still is a ‘work in progress’ and expecting him to remain top notch every week is a little too much to ask from him. The injury struggles of Yerry Mina don’t help Everton’s cause either.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin can play as a centre back too but he has spent more days on the treatment table than on the field in an Everton shirt. The Royal Blues need to shore up their defence with smart signings. Marcel Brands and Carlo Ancelotti are aware of not overspending in the market especially during the pandemic, so a Bosman transfer would be the cleverest move of all.
Jan Vertonghen announced via a post on Instagram that his time at Tottenham Hotspur has come to an end after 315 appearances and will miss friends that he made in North London.
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Jan Vertonghen is a free agent and at 33 still has a couple of vital years at the top. There’s the argument of signing Thiago Silva over Jan Vertonghen but signing the Belgian free agent is likely to benefit the Toffees more than acquiring the Brazilian.
Vertonghen won’t be a big burden on the wage budget as he will likely agree to a deal in the region of £80,000-£100,000 a week, similar to what he used to earn to Spurs.
The 33 year old has the expertise of playing in the Premier League of eight years compared to Silva’s no experince in English football. Jan Vertonghen has repeatedly asserted himself as a top English Top Flight centre back and Everton would be fortunate enough to have an experience rich player in their ranks.
Vertonghen is a disciplined centre back who can marshal the Everton defence and enhance Mason Holgate’s game. Solid in air, puts in meaty challenges, can play in a back three and back four, has good distribution and is a leader in the backline. These qualities speak enough about the Belgian’s quality and stature.
Signing Jan Vertonghen on a free transfer could be the shrewdest transfer of the summer season and Evertoninans would love to him at Goodison Park.