Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has emerged as a potential signing for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this summer.
Man City have set aside a sizeable transfer kitty worth £200m for new signings after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned their European ban, but the veteran will not cost them a penny as he will be out of contract in a matter of weeks.
Paul Robinson was “shocked” by the recent reports linking Vertonghen to the Etihad and insisted it would be a “kick in the teeth” for fans if he moves to City in the summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs star claimed he cannot see the centre-back completing a move to their Premier League rivals as he is too old.
According to The Telegraph, Guardiola believes he is the perfect short-term solution to fix his problems at the back.
Football Insider revealed Vertonghen and Michael Vorm will leave the club in the summer when their contracts run out.
The Spurs duo signed short-term extensions to extend their stay in north London until the end of the season.
After being asked by Dylan Childs if he could see Vertonghen move to Man City, Robinson said: “It would be a kick in the teeth but I could not see that happening.
“He is a top class defender and has been for many years but I cannot see Manchester City signing Vertonghen given the age he is at now.
“They would be signing him as a stop-gap and then they would have to look again next season. I would be shocked if that move happened.”
It is hard to argue with Robinson on this one, as Vertonghen has been such a loyal servant for Spurs for many years.
Vertonghen, 33, was a firm favourite of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, making over 200 appearances under the Argentine, but he has fallen out of favour with Pochettino’s successor Jose Mourinho.
He moved closer to the exit after Mourinho called off contract extension talks earlier this year.
Given his age, Guardiola may decide to look elsewhere instead, as City have already been linked to a number of high-profile centre-backs, including Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
The defender has also attracted attention from overseas and is now considering his options.
It would be a huge shock to the system if Vertonghen does end up at the Etihad, as losing a long-serving member of the Lilywhites to one of their fiercest rivals would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Tottenham fans, do you think Vertonghen will join Manchester City in the summer? Let us know down below!