New Tottenham Hotspur signing Jan Vertonghen is confident Spurs can challenge for the English Premier League title next season.
Recently appointed head coach Andre Villas-Boas was also quick to talk-up Spurs' title challenge, despite the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool expected to considerably strengthen their squads, and like his new manager, Vertonghen believes Spurs will be right up there with the big boys.
"I am delighted to be here," he told Spurs TV. "Over the last years Spurs have become a very big club in England.
"They finished in the top four a few times and for me it was one of the best clubs in the Premier League and that is one of the reasons I wanted to come here.
"There is a lot of quality and I think everybody wants to make a good season.
"Last year in the first six or seven months, they were up there for the title, the championship. After that it was not that well, but this year I think we will compete a few more months longer."
Former club Ajax Amsterdam were reluctant to let their club captain go, but Vertonghen admitted the chance of playing in the Premier League was too good for him to pass up. "I wish the Premier League started tomorrow," the 25-year-old said.
"I have to wait a bit longer but I am looking forward to starting and playing for Spurs.
"I am very excited. It has been my favourite competition for so many years.
"All the Belgian players I play with in the national team are very positive about it and I am looking forward to playing against them too."
The Belgian international, who was also reportedly on arch-rival Arsenal's radar, revealed he took advice from former Ajax player and current Tottenham midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart, before deciding to sign for Spurs.
"He left when I came to Ajax but I met him a few times and spoke with him about Spurs," he said.
"He was very positive, gave me a great feeling about the club and was very positive about the club, about the players and the Premier League. I hope these stories are true."
In other news, West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce confirmed they were closing in on striker Modibo Maiga from Sochaux. It is understood the 24-year-old Mali international is close to completing a £4.5 million ($7 million) move from the French side. "At the moment that is progressing," Allardyce told Sky Sports News. "That is going forward as we speak but is a little way off being clinched."
