‘HUGO MUST GET NEW
VERTONGHEN’S PLEA TO TOTTENHAM OVER FUTURE OF KEEPER HE RATES WORLD’S BEST
JAN VERTONGHEN says he would not swap Hugo Lloris for any goalkeeper in the world and urged Tottenham to tie him down to a new contract.
Lloris helped Spurs secure a Champions League point in the 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen last night by making a series of saves, including a remarkable stop on the line from Javier Hernandez’s shot.
The France international’s £80,000a-week deal expires in 2019 but Tottenham are keen to extend it and will continue their efforts to do so over the coming weeks.
Spurs gave eight players new contracts last month and defender Vertonghen feels securing Lloris’s long-term future at White Hart Lane is just as crucial.
Over the past two years, he has been linked with moves away to Paris St Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Vertonghen told Standard Sport: “I hope Hugo is the next one to agree a new deal. It’s important to keep this team together, especially quality players like him.
“He is our captain and a very important member of the squad. I don’t know what is going on right now [with contract negotiations] but I hope he’ll be at Tottenham for many years.
“I wouldn’t swap him for any keeper in world football. The save he made from Hernandez was unbelievable. You could say that’s what he’s there for but this stop was just different class. He also fits our style perfectly, the way we play, the pressing. The way he likes to come out of his goal fits what we want to do attacking-wise.
“He is up there among the best keepers in the world. He has been showing that for as long as I have been at the club. We joined in the same transfer window (summer of 2012) and he has performed at a high level in every game, every training session.”
Vertonghen has been talking to the club about a new contract and gave a big hint that he is close to announcing an agreement.
The 29-year-old centre-back said: “It’s important that so many of us are signing new deals and all think the same about Tottenham — the way we want to stay together for years and believe in what we are doing here. It is just great to be part of it.”
Last night’s draw in Germany means Tottenham’s progression to the last 16 is far from secure. They are second in Group E but all four teams are separated by just three points with as many games to go. Vertonghen fears