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Jan Vertonghen relishing Davinson Sanchez competition at Tottenham

Jan Vertonghen
Image: Jan Vertonghen says he cannot wait to see Davinson Sanchez in training

Jan Vertonghen says he is relishing the expected competition from new Tottenham signing Davinson Sanchez.

Sanchez became the third current Spurs player to join from Ajax in a £38.4m deal last month and will vie with Vertonghen, ex-Ajax star Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier and Juan Foyth for a place in Mauricio Pochettino's back-three.

Sanchez has been away on international duty with Colombia and Vertonghen is looking forward to seeing him train, believing him to have the physicality to cope in the Premier League.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 02:  Davinson Sanchez and Joel Veltman of Ajax battles for the ball with Dirk Kuyt of Feyenoord Rotterdam during the Dutch E
Image: Vertonghen believes Sanchez has the physicality to play in the Premier League

"I know people who know him and they are all very positive. They rate him very highly," Vertonghen told Tottenham's website.

"It's always nice to have new players in the squad and we're looking forward to seeing him training. It will mean more competition for places but that's what football is all about.

"Obviously he's coming from Ajax so we have something in common, along with Christian (Eriksen) and Toby (Alderweireld), who also played for them in the past.

"I'd say that the Premier League is more physical than the Dutch league, but Sanchez looks like he has that physicality, so I'm sure he'll do well here."

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Ajax were at pains to sell Sanchez after just one season at the club in which he helped them reach the Europa League final and chief executive Edwin van der Saar admits it was too difficult to turn down a club-record transfer fee.

"I think with [Davinson] Sanchez one year was too early. He should have stayed two or three years," the former Manchester United 'keeper said at Soccerex.

"But sometimes with the financial power that is looming over us in the bigger leagues it's quite difficult for even a big club like Ajax coming from a small league to resist certain transfers."

"We know at a certain point that this league is not strong enough so after a few years, hopefully if you play three, four or five years for the club and give us two or three championships and success in Europe then [in an] ideal world it is the right step to go forward."

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