Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Jan Vertonghen and Isco

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has reportedly agreed in principle to a new contract with the club, although he is said to be stalling on signing it.

That’s according to Dan Kilpatrick of ESPN FC, who has suggested the Spurs centre-back had a disagreement with manager Mauricio Pochettino following the team’s 2-1 loss to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League last month. His current terms expire in 2018, and it’s noted negotiations about an extension have been under way since the start of the year.

However, it’s stated there’s little cause for alarm bells to be ringing at White Hart Lane when it comes to the 29-year-old’s future.

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“The sources were confident Vertonghen, who likes living in London and is particularly proud of his partnership with Belgium teammate Toby Alderweireld, has no plans to leave the club and will sign soon,” Kilpatrick wrote.

Vertonghen has been a major success since moving from Ajax to north London in 2012. World Soccer Talk’s Kartik Krishnaiyer believes the defensive setup he's a key part of can push Spurs to the title this term:

As aforementioned, alongside Toby Alderweireld, Vertonghen’s game has jumped up another notch.

Operating as the left-sided centre-back, his commanding aerial presence, calmness in possession and sharpness in spotting danger make Spurs such a hard side to break down. They’ve only conceded three goals this season, fewer than any side in the Premier League.

With that in mind, Tottenham fans would be delighted to see one of their key defensive cogs follow a host of his team-mates in committing his future to the White Hart Lane side.

Given the exciting future that looks to be in store for the club, there’s little reason to think Vertonghen would want to go anywhere else at the moment.

Isco’s Future Discussed

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The father of Real Madrid midfielder and reported Tottenham target Isco has revealed the player will make a decision on his future at the end of the season.

“We've opted to keep a low profile with the press and I can assure you that we are not going to consider any offer before next summer,” Paco Alarcon, also the Spain international’s agent, told Calciometro (h/t James Benge of the Evening Standard).

Isco has struggled for minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu this term, with James Rodriguez and Marco Asensio moving ahead of him in the pecking order at the club. Per Benge, Spurs have been strongly linked with the 24-year-old, who will have just one year to run on his contract come the end of the season.

Although Isco may not have showcased his best this season, when he’s in form, he can be a joy to watch. Here’s a glimpse of what he’s capable of (warning: video contains NSFW language):

It’s certainly a shame to see him stuck on the bench at Madrid, although given the standard of players at the club, it’s imperative chances are taken when they arise.

As Bleacher Report’s Karl Matchett noted, he didn’t impress when starting against Eibar last time out in La Liga:

At most clubs in European football, Isco’s talent would be cherished and even accommodated. Few players can match his technical ability and close control in tight areas.

Spurs certainly aren’t desperate for a player in this area, as Pochettino can call on the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Heung-Min Son and Moussa Sissoko already. But if the manager were able to integrate a player of Isco’s grace into this growing Tottenham juggernaut, it’d potentially push them on to another level.