Vertonghen is the second arrival at White Hart Lane under Andre Villas-Boas' short reign as manager following Icelander Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Belgium international, who this week completed a protracted transfer from Eredivisie club Ajax,  believes his new team are capable of improving on last season's fourth-placed finish.

Tottenham were in the running for the Premier League title until February, when a heavy defeat at Arsenal sparked a collapse that saw them ultimately miss out on a Champions League berth.

"Last year we were in the race for the Premier League for a long time so we have to try and do that again and for a bit longer," he said.

"At the moment when I see these players I think that we have a lot of possibility to play with good possession and why not?

"They finished in a Champions League place last year and this season I want to do the same and maybe a bit more.

Vertonghen had to push hard for Ajax to authorise his departure, with head coach Frank de Boer reluctant to lose one of his key men.

"I just told my manager to please close the deal because I really wanted to come to this club," he said.

"The way they play football is one of the reasons I came here. They all want to play football and they play in the same way as Ajax.

"I saw them playing in the Champions League and they're just an amazing team with quality players.

"It's a dream for every football player to play in the Premier League because football was born here.

"I went to Tottenham against Fulham on the last day of the season and the atmosphere was amazing."