Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has labelled Andros Townsend as the new Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane.
Spurs spent over £100million in order to replace the Welshman, who left to join Real Madrid in a record-breaking move earlier in the Summer, but it has been a player who has come up the ranks who has replaced the world’s most expensive player.
Townsend has burst onto the scene after impressing during England’s World Cup Qualifiers, and his week got even better when he scored during his side’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Talking after the game, Vertonghen believes the club have found their new star and a perfect replacement for Bale.
“I think Andros can be our new Gareth Bale,” said defender Vertonghen. “He has so much pace and technique and skills, and he can do it with both feet. I hope he can keep going like this and he can even be our best player.
“Can he reach the same level as Bale? Maybe one day, if he keeps working – and he will. He’s young. In two or three years I think he can go to that level, yes.
“I remember playing against him in training last year. Sometimes I played left-back so I played against him when he was on the right wing in training, and I never liked playing against him.
“He’s 100 per cent professional and I like him as a person as well so I’m very happy he’s doing this well.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
