Tottenham transfer news: Three Champions League sides from same country test water for Tanganga deal

Japhet Tanganga has three admirers in Serie A who are ready to test the resolve of Tottenham Hotspur, according to a reporter.

Tanganga faces an uncertain future at Tottenham despite having a contract that lasts until 2025. At the age of 23, he has still only managed 43 senior appearances for the club. His most recent season, in which he played 19 times, was curtailed by injury.

The defender was already attracting interest from elsewhere during the January transfer window. Now, he has become the subject of rumours again.

According to SportItalia journalist Gianluigi Longari, there are three clubs who could take Tanganga to Serie A. Moving abroad would be a big leap for his first time leaving Tottenham.

Longari reminds that AC Milan looked into a deal in January. Now, their rivals Inter and Napoli are also said to have put out feelers for a transfer.

At this stage, no side is at an advanced stage of their interest. However, the competition for Tanganga’s services is building up.

Tottenham are trying to make a signing in his position of centre-back. Ideally, Antonio Conte would like to find a left-footed defender to form part of his starting back three.

Although Tanganga plays on the opposite side of defence – and sometimes at right-back – the extra competition for places would not do him much good. Therefore, leaving Tottenham may be the best solution.

Assessing the best choice for Tanganga

AC Milan already have an English defender in their ranks. Fikayo Tomori has impressed since joining from Chelsea and could sign a long-term contract extension at San Siro.

Napoli also had a former England youth international with them for the second half of last season. However, Axel Tuanzebe made little impact while on loan from Manchester United.

Inter, meanwhile, could lose one of their defenders to Tottenham themselves. Alessandro Bastoni is being targeted by Conte for a reunion in north London. Perhaps Tanganga could be a counterweight in the opposite direction.

Any of the three clubs would be able to offer Tanganga the chance to play in the Champions League. The same goes for Tottenham, of course, after their fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

But if he is not a major part of Conte’s plans, perhaps it is time to look elsewhere.

His chances of playing more in Italy would depend on each suitor’s other transfer activity. Napoli may have the greatest need given Tuanzebe’s impending return to Man Utd.

Yet other outgoings at either of the Milan clubs could open opportunities there, too. It would still be a battle to compete for a place, though – especially in a league where defenders have to have exceptional awareness.

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