Transfer News: Ralph Hasenhuttl vows to keep Jannik Vestergaard amid Tottenham links

According to transfer news from Metro, Ralph Hasenhuttl has vowed to keep Jannik Vestergaard amid interest from Tottenham. The Southampton defender has been on the radar of the club and is seen as a viable alternative to Milan Skriniar.

Jose Mourinho wants to strengthen his defensive rearguard. Last week’s collapse at Newcastle United has pushed the club to speed up a deal for the Saints centre-back. Vestergaard joined the Premier League outfit back in 2018 from Borussia Monchengladbach. He has gone on to make 70 appearances for the Saints in all competitions and has grown into a vital figure for them this campaign.

The Danish international has just one year left on his current contract. However, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is keen to keep the player by whatever means necessary.

‘What can I say? It’s nothing new for our players that do a good job for us this season, that they are on the list for some bigger clubs. This is normal. This has always been in our history. I don’t want to discuss rumours around there. It’s not necessary to discuss it. You can be sure that this player has a contract for Southampton and for as long as he has this he is our player. We will do everything to keep him here and to protect him for everything.’

There is pressure on Mourinho to deliver European football this season. Failure to ensure that could impact Daniel Levy’s decision of keeping him at the club at the end of this season.

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However, now it becomes even more difficult to prise away Vestergaard with Southampton’s stance on the player’s future. Vestergaard would have been a good option to pursue given that, at 28, he is in his prime years and would have been an upgrade on the current crop of defenders at the club.