JOSE MOURINHO has told Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen they should follow Toby Alderweireld by committing their future to Tottenham.
Two years of stalemate finally ended on Friday as the 30-year-old Belgian defender penned a new deal until 2023.
Jose Mourinho has told Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen they should stay at TottenhamCredit: PA:Empics Sport
However, both Eriksen and Vertonghen are still stalling on contract extensions, and with both becoming free agents in June, they will be able to speak to European clubs from January 1.
The Danish attacker seems determined to leave the club, with reports claiming he has already told Mourinho he has no desire to remain in North London.
Meanwhile, the Spurs boss has also hinted that Belgian defender Vertonghen’s agent is making a new deal difficult.
But speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s clash against his old team Chelsea, the Portuguese issued a defiant message to the duo after finally getting Alderweireld to put pen-to-paper.
Mourinho said: “When I arrived we had potentially three important players leaving. In this moment we have potentially two top players leaving.
“It’s going to be two, one or zero but in this moment I can’t tell you.
“I’m very happy that it’s not three – yesterday was three but this morning it’s two.”
He continued: ”If I was Jan or Christian I would stay because they are here for such a long time.
“They are living the life of the club for the last five or six years, the transition from White Hart Lane to the best stadium in the world.
“With the perspective and vision of the club for the future, if I was them I would say ‘I want to be part of the next one’.”
When quizzed over whether him taking over at Spurs had an influence on Alderweireld’s decision, he added: “I don’t think so. Of course, I think there is a good feeling between us and that maybe helped a little bit but the negotiation point of view is nothing to do with me. That’s the club, Mr Levy and Toby’s father or agent.
“But I read a quote from Toby where he said ‘there is no place I can be happier than this’ and I think that is the biggest reason why he is staying.
“It probably helps that since I arrived he has played every minute of every match. He probably has a feeling that ‘with this guy I am going to be first-choice’. Maybe that helped.”
Christian Eriksen is out of contract in June and has told the club he wants to leaveCredit: Getty
Jan Vertonghen is also stalling on signing a contract extensionCredit: AP:Associated Press
Toby Alderweireld penned a new deal with Spurs on Friday to end the uncertainty over his futureCredit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
