Tottenham Hotspur could find themselves a new Jan Vertonghen next year and he may not cost a penny...

What's the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Spurs are among the clubs interested in a move for versatile Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter in 2022.

The 27-year-old's current contract is due to expire at the end of the season and his situation has alerted several clubs across Europe, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and the Premier League outfit.

Capped 44 times by Germany, the 6 foot 3 colossus is able to negotiate with foreign clubs from January, meaning that the north London hierarchy could snap him up without having to pay a transfer fee.

That would certainly be a bargain move from sporting director Fabio Paratici and co, considering that Ginter is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt.

Shades of Vertonghen

Primarily a centre-back, Ginter can also be deployed at right-back and in defensive midfield. That may draw some comparisons to former Spurs star Jan Vertonghen, who left the club in the summer of 2020.

The Belgian is only one inch smaller than the Gladbach ace and he too was a solid option at both left-back and in the middle. Both can also chip in with the odd goal, as well.

Ginter featured in a back three on his way to the Confederations Cup in 2017, at right-back in Euro 2016 qualifying and the 2018 UEFA Nations League, and when you throw in his aerial ability and distribution, then you can really see why he has earned serious comparisons to former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos.

That's according to another great in the game, Lothar Matthaus.

"Ginter has become a leader at the back, in a similar way to Ramos at Real," the German football legend told Sport Bild (via Bundesliga.com). "He doesn't just give instructions to his teammates, but leads them as well. That's what Ginter is doing really well at the moment. He reminds me of Ramos."

The word "leader" isn't a term used loosely around the German international either, with his former Gladbach boss Marco Rose echoing such thoughts.

Meanwhile, former national team head coach Joachim Low believes he's "so solid, reliable and dependable."

Throughout his career, Ginter has won an average of 2.7 aerial duels won per game, emphasising his ability in the air, whilst also averaging 1.5 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 3.1 clearances each outing too, as per WhoScored.

On the above evidence, the Gladbach defender would be a very astute addition to Nuno Santo's playing squad next summer. Clearly, he's respected on both a domestic and international level, and his figures back up exactly why.

Paratici could find Spurs' next Vertonghen by launching a move for the soon-to-be free-agent.

AND in other news, Spurs may forever rue big summer blunder over £18m-rated "machine", Nuno must be livid...