Tottenham have no interest in selling Jan Vertonghen this summer and have opened talks with the Belgium defender over a new contract.

Standard Sport revealed earlier this month that Barcelona want to sign the 27-year-old and are prepared to pay £17.5m for his signature.

Barcelona still have money to spend despite signing Luis Suarez from Liverpool for £75m and are keen to strengthen their defence following Carles Puyol’s retirement.

Vertonghen impressed for Belgium at the World Cup and his agent significantly refused to rule out a move to the Nou Camp.

But Spurs are not willing to lose the centre half, who joined from Ajax for £9.6m in 2012 on a four-year deal worth £40,000-a-week.

He grew unsettled under former coach Andre Villas-Boas when he was made to play at left back and also hinted in February that he may leave if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Football's twitterati - Top 10 most followed Premier League clubs on twitter (December 2014) 10 show all Football's twitterati - Top 10 most followed Premier League clubs on twitter (December 2014) 1/10 10. Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) - 359K GETTY 2/10 9. West Ham United (@whufc_official) - 372K 3/10 8. Newcastle United (@NUFC) - 479K 4/10 7.Everton (@Everton) - 486K LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: Kevin Mirallas of Everton celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 20, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/G 5/10 6.Tottenham (@SpursOfficial) - 980K LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Emmanuel Adebayor (2nd right) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane on May 11, 2014 in London, England. 6/10 5. Manchester City (@MCFC) - 2.18million GETTY 7/10 4. Manchester United (@manutd) - 4.03m GETTY 8/10 3. Liverpool (@LFC) - 3.64million GETTY 9/10 2.Chelsea (@chelseafc) - 4.85million Getty 10/10 1. Arsenal (@Arsenal) - 5million REUTERS 1/10 10. Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) - 359K GETTY 2/10 9. West Ham United (@whufc_official) - 372K 3/10 8. Newcastle United (@NUFC) - 479K 4/10 7.Everton (@Everton) - 486K LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: Kevin Mirallas of Everton celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 20, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/G 5/10 6.Tottenham (@SpursOfficial) - 980K LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Emmanuel Adebayor (2nd right) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane on May 11, 2014 in London, England. 6/10 5. Manchester City (@MCFC) - 2.18million GETTY 7/10 4. Manchester United (@manutd) - 4.03m GETTY 8/10 3. Liverpool (@LFC) - 3.64million GETTY 9/10 2.Chelsea (@chelseafc) - 4.85million Getty 10/10 1. Arsenal (@Arsenal) - 5million REUTERS

But new coach Maurico Pochettino sees Vertonghen as a key part of his plans and wants him to stay at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham are prepared to offer him improved terms of around £60,000-a-week, which will make him one of the highest earners at the club.

Vertonghen, who is currently on a three-week break following Belgium’s exit from the World Cup Quarter Finals, is believed to be keen on putting pen-to-paper.