Vertonghen deal 'close' despite contract wrangle, says Ajax boss De Boer

Snag: Vertonghen's move to Spurs has been held up

Tottenham should not give up hope of signing Jan Vertonghen, despite the current contract dispute with the Holland club with is threatening to scupper the deal, says Ajax boss Frank de Boer.



De Boer believes the deal remains very close, despite Vertonghen's recent admission that he may have to stay with the Eredivisie outfor for another year.



Vertonghen is entitled to 15 per cent of the agreed £9.5million transfer deal under the terms of his deal with the Dutch champions.



Ajax have indicated their reluctance to honour the clause and, while the 25-year-old still seeks a move to White Hart Lane, but the manager believes the deal can happen.



'We’re very close,' De Boer said. 'But if the deal is not done, Jan must start his training next week with us.



'I was in the same situation (when he left Ajax for Barcelona in 1999). But, eventually, I expect the deal will be done. I expect everything will be alright.'



