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The 2015-16 Premier League season may be winding down, but Tottenham Hotspur continues to plan for the future. Today Tom Colomosse at the Evening Standard is reporting that Spurs are nearing completion of new contracts for defender Jan Vertonghen, and midfielders Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela.
News of these three extending their tenures at White Hart Lane isn't exactly new; we've reported on possible deals for Vertonghen, Eriksen, and Lamela at some point or another over the past few months. What's different here is that the reports say not that talks are ongoing, but that they're "close."
It's safe to say that Spurs' fortunes have hinged in no small part on the performances of all three of these players. Vertonghen formed the best defensive partnership in the Premier League alongside Toby Alderweireld, and it makes a ton of sense to keep the band together, even after Jan's extended injury and a string of excellent matches by reserve back Kevin Wimmer.
Eriksen has been one of the keys to Tottenham's midfield engine. Although he's played a slightly different role in Mauricio Pochettino's offense than in past seasons and hasn't been as prolific a scorer, he's been an incredibly effective player in a highly dynamic offense.
Lamela, meanwhile, reportedly already makes around £60k/week, towards the top of Spurs' wage structure, but he's been fantastic for Tottenham this season and it'd be difficult to say that he wouldn't deserve a reward for his season.
If I had to guess, I'd say likely the main reason for the delay in confirming these deals hinged on Tottenham's Champions League prospects. With six matches to play, Spurs are heavy favorites to play in European football's top club competition next season, which makes it a lot easier for Spurs' best players to re-up and stay in North London.
Of course, we wait for the official confirmation, but locking all three of these players down to new contracts is validation of the excellent season Spurs have had and points to continued success in future years.