According to Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur’s Japhet Tanganga is among the players targeted by Bundesliga clubs. The German clubs have turned to the English market in recent years following the meteoric rise of Jadon Sancho. And it seems Tanganga is one of the players they are monitoring after the defender made a breakthrough in the Spurs lineup earlier this year.
Japhet Tanganga’s breakout at Spurs
A product of the Tottenham youth academy, Tanganga gained promotion to the first-team in January. The club’s lack of defensive options saw him quickly get an opportunity to play in the Premier League. His performance against Liverpool and Southampton (in the FA Cup) raised a lot of eyebrows.
Eventually, Tanganga became a first-team option for Jose Mourinho. The youngster had already featured in eleven competitive matches for Tottenham Hotspur before the season came to a halt due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In fact, he has started in all of Spurs’ last three matches in the league.
Why Mourinho must keep hold of Tanganga
The defensive department has emerged as a massive weakness for Tottenham Hotspur this season. As mentioned earlier, the club lacks the presence of reliable options, especially with Jan Vertonghen struggling with numerous fitness problems. His current contract at Spurs also expires at the end of the campaign.
Moreover, both Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez have failed to provide solidity in the backline consistently. Meanwhile, Juan Foyth has been unable to impress Mourinho, thus leaving the Portuguese mastermind with very few options in the defensive unit.
Tanganga’s prolonged stay at Spurs, therefore, could be imperative as the Lilywhites look to reshape their defensive department in the summer.
What does the future hold for Tanganga?
Tanganga could actually have an exciting opportunity to make himself a key component in the Tottenham backline if he chooses to remain at the club for the long-term. The youngster is already destined to enjoy a more prominent role in the first-team next season, even though Spurs will likely sign at least one new centre-back in the summer.
However, the Englishman could also flourish in the Bundesliga as well, which is a breeding ground for young, talented footballers. Tanganga could easily become a key asset for clubs like FC Schalke or Hertha Berlin and even Borussia Dortmund, given their lack of defensive options.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see whether Tottenham Hotspur do manage to convince Tanganga to extend his contract and remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
