---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Ex-Spur ‘shocked’ as Pochettino favourite may move to Manchester City"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-ex-spur-shocked-as-pochettino-favourite-may-move-to-manchester-city/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Ward"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-07-22T15:20:43Z"
modified: "2020-07-22T15:20:43Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Ex-Spur ‘shocked’ as Pochettino favourite may move to Manchester City

**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](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/07/14/jan-vertonghen-emerges-potential-free-transfer-target-manchester/) 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](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-jan-vertonghen-man-city-transfer-links/) 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.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”305520″\]

Speaking exclusively to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-robinson-shocked-as-top-class-spurs-player-may-join-pl-giants-after-twist/), 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](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/07/14/jan-vertonghen-emerges-potential-free-transfer-target-manchester/), Guardiola believes he is the perfect short-term solution to fix his problems at the back.

[Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-robinson-shocked-as-top-class-spurs-player-may-join-pl-giants-after-twist/) revealed Vertonghen and Michael Vorm will leave the club in the summer when [their contracts](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-jan-vertonghen-man-city-transfer-links/) 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](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-robinson-shocked-as-top-class-spurs-player-may-join-pl-giants-after-twist/) 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](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/jan-vertonghen-spurs-transfer-latest-17730345) has been such a loyal servant for Spurs for many years.

Vertonghen, 33, was a firm favourite of former boss [Mauricio Pochettino](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mauricio-pochettino/eingesetzteSpieler/trainer/9044), 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](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1289271/Tottenham-news-Jan-Vertonghen-transfer-exit-contract-talks-Jose-Mourinho-Premier-League) called off contract extension talks earlier this year.

[\[freshpress-poll id=”310600″\]](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/[freshpress-poll%20id=%22310600%22])

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](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1312139/Man-City-transfer-news-Kalidou-Koulibaly-message-Nathan-Ake) and Napoli’s [Kalidou Koulibaly](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1312139/Man-City-transfer-news-Kalidou-Koulibaly-message-Nathan-Ake).

The defender has also attracted attention from overseas and is now considering his [options](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jan-vertonghen-makes-tottenham-transfer-21752677).

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!***