Tottenham player contacted ‘several times’ recently for summer transfer

AS Roma need to secure a senior central defender for next season, especially if they can’t keep Chris Smalling beyond the end of the current season.

Finances aren’t plentiful for them to recruit in this position, so it’s no surprise that soon to be free agent Jan Vertonghen is on the agenda.

Franco Baldini, now back in a recruiting role at the Serie A club, has spoken to the Spurs defender ‘several times’ recently, report Corriere dello Sport, keeping him as an option should he be required.

Vertonghen himself also has other options, both in Italy and elsewhere. For some months it’s been clear intermediaries have been trying a build a move to Serie A for the Tottenham player, or at least checking what level of interest there is.

Given his contract situation, the Belgium international shouldn’t be short of suitors, however, the impact of Covid-19 on football finances may well mean his signing on fee won’t be as lucrative as it could have been.