Pundit tips reported Spurs target to make step up to a big club in the summer

Tottenham Hotspur may be in the market for a new central defender come the summer, with Jan Vertonghen’s current contract […]

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Tottenham Hotspur may be in the market for a new central defender come the summer, with Jan Vertonghen’s current contract set to expire at the end of the current season.

The Belgian has been at the club for the past eight seasons and became a mainstay at the back virtually since day one, thriving alongside his compatriot Toby Alderweireld from 2015 onwards.

However, the 32-year-old now faces stiff competition from the likes of Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez, younger pairs of legs in North London.

One man Spurs have been tipped to go after as a long-term Vertonghen replacement is Nathan Ake from Bournemouth (Football Insider).

The ex-Chelsea centre-back has been impressive since leaving the Blues in search of first-team football, but Noel Whelan believes he has outgrown the Cherries.

No matter whether Bournemouth go down or stay up this season, Whelan claims that Ake is ready for a step up to a big club, mentioning Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal.

He said (Football Insider): “There’s no doubt they [Spurs] need to freshen it up [at the back].

“He’s been linked with moves back to Chelsea, he’s been looked at by Arsenal. There’s a lot of clubs looking at Nathan Ake.

“Since leaving Chelsea he’s really come on leaps and bounds and developed into a very good centre half.

“But I think now, come the end of the season, no matter where Bournemouth end up, whether they’re still in the Premier League or they get relegated, I think it’s probably time for him to take that step up to a big club.”

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