According to The Athletic (subscription needed), Tottenham Hotspur have triggered the option to extend Japhet Tanganga’s contract to one more year. And it is believed that they will also begin talks soon to tie the defender down to a long-term deal as Jose Mourinho prepares for his ultimate squad overhaul. And in this article, we will discuss why the potential contract extension of Tanganga could be valuable for Spurs.
An answer to Tottenham’s defensive problems
Mourinho has had to face a host of issues since replacing Mauricio Pochettino as the Tottenham head coach. The absence of a reliable right-back has been one of the main problems, with the Portuguese often having to rely on the inconsistent figure of Serge Aurier.
The Ivorian hasn’t managed to impress at all. But unfortunately for Mourinho, he is the only reliable option available in the right-back slot. But, that’s where Tanganga comes into the fray.
In the game against Liverpool, the young defender featured on the right-hand side, with Aurier being deployed as a wing-back, in Mourinho’s three-man at the back system. Now, the ex-Madrid coach could tweak his setup and use Tanganga as a right-back, ahead of Aurier, with Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld playing in central defence.
So basically, Tanganga could potentially be the answer to Tottenham’s problems at right-back, especially if they fail to sign a quality alternative in this January transfer window.
He is a perfect fit for Mourinho
What makes Tanganga such an appealing young player for Tottenham is his style of play. Unlike any modern-day defender, the 20-year-old is not a flashy defender, who can make himself useful by going forward at regular intervals. He is more a no-nonsense defender, who can keep track of his marker.
Tanganga has the physical prowess as well as the commitment that makes him an intimidating figure for any attacker. Moreover, his temperament is also remarkable as he rarely loses focus even when the opposition is coming at full force. It was evident in his performance against Liverpool, earlier this month.
And all these qualities make Tanganga an ideal fit for Mourinho’s defence-oriented style of play at Tottenham.
One for the future
While Tanganga is tactically suited to Mourinho’s style of play, the 20-year-old also has time on his side and could provide a lot of prospect for the future.
Much like Trent Alexander Arnold or Joe Gomez for Liverpool, Tanganga can become the face of the Tottenham defence within the coming years. And at the age of 20, he has a lot to learn as well and will only get better from now on, which is why the Lilywhites must retain the services of the youngster as long as possible.
