Jan Vertonghen is expected to sign a new contract with Tottenham despite a delay in terms being finalised.

The Belgium defender’s current deal, worth close to £40,000 per week, runs out at the end of next season. Talks between player and club had been progressing well, though nothing has yet been signed.

Vertonghen, 29, remains a key player at White Hart Lane and has formed an outstanding central defensive partnership with compatriot Toby Alderweireld. Spurs have conceded only three goals in the League this season and none from open play.

Standard Sport understands, however, that there has been a degree of tension between Vertonghen and manager Mauricio Pochettino in recent weeks.

Pochettino is thought to have been unhappy with Vertonghen’s performance in the 2-1 home defeat by Monaco at Wembley last month, particularly the way Bernardo Silva breezed past him to score the opening goal.

Vertonghen also liked a tweet posted after Spurs’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on October 3, noting that while he and Alderweireld had cost only a combined £24million, City pair John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi commanded an aggregate fee of £85m. Vertonghen is still very likely to sign, however. He and Alderweireld are arguably the best pairing in the Premier League and if Spurs are to push for the title, their challenge will be based heavily on their defensive solidity. Tottenham announced a number of new contracts with key players last month, with Christian Eriksen, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose all signing. Next on the list, along with Vertonghen, are Erik Lamela and Harry Kane.

Meanwhile, Pochettino insists Alli has become a more mature character as he prepares to face West Brom for the first time since the game that earned him a three-match suspension.

The rise of Dele Alli 19 show all The rise of Dele Alli 1/19 The defining games of Dele Alli's career Steve Bardens/Getty Images 2/19 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014 The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.



Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice. Getty Images 3/19 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015 Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side. Getty Images 4/19 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015 Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.



He didn't look back. Getty Images 5/19 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015 Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Getty Images 6/19 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016 Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.



The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.



This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced. Getty Images 7/19 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016 Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.



The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.



The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak." Getty Images 8/19 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016 Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.



Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI. Getty Images 9/19 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016 Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.



Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity. AFP/Getty Images 10/19 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016 Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.



Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.



Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end. AFP/Getty Images 11/19 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016 Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.



Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere. Getty Images 12/19 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016 Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory. Getty Images 13/19 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017 His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea). Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/19 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017 Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane. AFP/Getty Images 15/19 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017 Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker. Rex Features 16/19 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017 Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 17/19 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018 Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018 Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals. AP 19/19 Tottenham 2 Watford 2 September 26 2018 Dele Alli scores on his return to Stadium MK, with Spurs forced to play their League Cup game their due to delays with their new stadium. David Rogers/Getty Images 1/19 The defining games of Dele Alli's career Steve Bardens/Getty Images 2/19 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014 The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.



Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice. Getty Images 3/19 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015 Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side. Getty Images 4/19 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015 Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.



He didn't look back. Getty Images 5/19 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015 Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Getty Images 6/19 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016 Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.



The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.



This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced. Getty Images 7/19 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016 Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.



The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.



The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak." Getty Images 8/19 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016 Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.



Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI. Getty Images 9/19 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016 Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.



Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity. AFP/Getty Images 10/19 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016 Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.



Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.



Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end. AFP/Getty Images 11/19 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016 Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.



Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere. Getty Images 12/19 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016 Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory. Getty Images 13/19 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017 His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea). Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/19 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017 Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane. AFP/Getty Images 15/19 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017 Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker. Rex Features 16/19 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017 Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 17/19 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018 Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018 Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals. AP 19/19 Tottenham 2 Watford 2 September 26 2018 Dele Alli scores on his return to Stadium MK, with Spurs forced to play their League Cup game their due to delays with their new stadium. David Rogers/Getty Images

As Spurs tried to keep pace with Leicester during the closing weeks of last season, they lost decisive ground when they could manage only a 1-1 draw at home to Albion in April.

Alli was caught on camera punching Claudio Yacob which, although missed by referee Mike Jones, meant he was suspended for the final three games of the campaign on video evidence.

It was not the only time last season that Alli was involved in controversy but he has been booked only once this term, in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool in August. At the same stage of 2015-16, Alli had already collected five yellow cards.

Pochettino told Standard Sport: “From that moment [against West Brom] I think he has improved a lot. He is now more calm and mature on the pitch. It was a situation that happened on the pitch, he was banned and it was a moment for him to learn.

“It was a special period for us, fighting for the title at the end of the season and it was difficult for us. We are clever and we have to learn from that experience. But we are more mature than we were last season.”

Pochettino must manage his squad intelligently as they approach an exacting phase of the season, with seven games in three competitions in the next 23 days. Spurs are one point behind leaders Manchester City and face two games against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League that will be vital to their chances of qualification. They also travel to Liverpool in the EFL Cup.

Key players Kane (ankle) and Mousa Dembele (foot) are absent injured and Pochettino admitted: “These next seven games are very important now. We need to manage and handle all the players. We are working very hard to be right for tomorrow, to not risk losing any players for the next games.

“If you play only one game per week, it is not a big issue. The problem is how you manage the game in Leverkusen, the match at Bournemouth, the match at Liverpool. It is very difficult.”