Rumour: Barcelona reportedly back in for Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen

Barcelona have turned their attention back to Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur this summer according to TalkSport, having become frustrated in their hunt for defenders so far in the close season.

Barcelona have been priced out of a move for Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Marquinhos with the French Ligue 1 champions looking to make a profit on the €30million they paid Roma for the young Brazilian’s signature last year, while they are struggling to conclude a deal with Valencia’s Jeremy Mathieu.

A deal for Liverpool’s Daniel Agger has been rejected by Barcelona after they decided he was not up to the quality they are demanding of their targets, so they have turned their attentions back to Vertonghen, having monitored him closely earlier in the year.

Vertonghen endured a difficult season at White Hart Lane last year as he fell out with rookie manager Tim Sherwood and was reportedly one of the members of the playing staff to demand his removal. There have even been suggestions he would look to leave Spurs if an offer from a bigger club came in.

Barcelona have been keen on Vertonghen back from his days with Ajax, from whom Spurs bought the defender for £10m, and could now turn to him this summer as they look to strengthen their defensive options in the wake of the retirement of club captain Carles Puyol.

Jan Vertonghen made 12 interceptions in his five World Cup games for Belgium this summer.