Jan Vertonghen to help club raid Tottenham for priceless star which could leave Ange Postecoglou short
There could be a brilliant Tottenham reunion in Brussels with former Spurs star Jan Vertonghen involved in talks.
Tottenham assistant boss Ryan Mason is in talks to become the new manager of Belgian giants Anderlecht, according to reports from the BBC.
Discussions have been held all day with former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, who is the captain of Anderlecht and knows Mason from their time together at Spurs. Vertonghen has reportedly been pushing for the club to bring Mason to Brussels.
Mason is in the running to replace Brian Riemer, who was sacked last month. A former midfielder who came through the club’s academy, Mason has twice taken charge of Spurs on an interim basis—first in 2021 following the sacking of José Mourinho, and again in 2023 after the dismissal of Cristian Stellini. LondonWorld has been informed that he is keen on the job, and the BBC reports that talks are expected to continue as both parties seek a way to make it happen.
Potential blow for Ange Postecoglou
Mason remained at Spurs when Ange Postecoglou took over at the insistence of the Australian manager, who found Mason to be the main link between the coaching team and the playing squad, as well as a guardian of the club’s traditions.
Not many people know Tottenham like Mason does, and he’s held various coaching positions, which makes him a valuable member of the coaching team. The main decision-maker is definitely Postecoglou, who has the final say, but sources have indicated that Mason's voice carries weight, and he is one of the key figures Postecoglou relies on when making decisions.
Mason's departure would leave the coaching team short-staffed, necessitating the recruitment of another assistant in a short time frame—something Tottenham will have to consider if they are to make a final decision regarding Anderlecht’s interest.
Vertonghen, who played at the heart of the Tottenham defence when they reached the final of the Champions League under Mauricio Pochettino, and worked closely with him both on and off the field, will be delighted to have his former teammate as head coach as they aim to win the Belgian league.