“it would be a shame not to continue” – Tottenham player on his plans for both club and country

Jan Vertonghen’s contract with Tottenham runs until June 2019 and the club have an option to extend by a further a season.

Unless something dramatic happens with regards to the player’s form and fitness, then it’s pretty certain Spurs will use the option if there’s no renewal before then.

The defender will be well aware of that situation and knows he’s not going to be able to shop around as a free agent come January, not that Vertonghen gives the impression he wants to anyway.

Speaking at a Belgium national team press conference on Wednesday, Vertonghen spoke about his future both at club and national level.

Quoted by HLN, the Spurs player said: “The club has an option that they will probably take. I do not plan ahead so far, compared to earlier. I’ll see what next year brings.”

There had been an expectation some of Belgium older players would retire after the World Cup to concentrate on their club careers, but that hasn’t been the case for the major stars.

Vincent Kompany continues and Vertonghen, himself 31 years of age, has no intention of calling it a day for Belgium. Voetbal Krant quote him as saying: “It would be a shame not to continue with this group, this core can continue for two years together, and ninety percent maybe four years, or if I belong to that second category, I will not soon say that I am leaving, if my body allows it. “