Darren Bent suggests that Arsenal could make a move to sign Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen on a free transfer in 2020 if he does not sign a new contract with the Lilywhites.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Spurs and England striker, who is also a boyhood Gunners fan, says that the Belgian international’s contract status will have some big clubs chasing his capture and that Unai Emery’s side could be in the running.

Vertonghen has suggested he could pen a new deal with Mauricio Pochettino’s men but until he does there is the potential of signing a pre-contract deal with a foreign side in January to leave on a free in the summer.

Bent says that Tottenham’s north London rivals could do with a player of Vertonghen’s quality and suggested that they could take advantage of his contract coming to an end next summer.

Bent told Football Insider: “Jan Vertonghen, playing at the centre of the defence, are there too many more that are going to be better than him? If you’re going to take him on a free, Arsenal could do with him.

“If he’s on a free don’t be surprised if they’re in the mix for him as well. I think it’s a situation they need to address but at the same time I wouldn’t want to see these players walk away for nothing. It’s a difficult one, they’re down to a free, they’re obviously not going to sign new contracts so what do you do?”

Vertonghen has played 294 times for Tottenham since joining from Ajax, forming a formidable partnership with fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld at the heart of the defence.

Arsenal signed David Luiz to strengthen their backline over the summer transfer window with the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding to partner the Brazilian.

In other Arsenal news, Bent says he would be “embarrassed” if he was one of the Gunners’ senior stars this season.