In a recent report, Tuttomercatoweb mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga is on the radar of Newcastle United this summer. It has been claimed that the Magpies are eyeing a loan move with an obligation to buy for the English centre-half.
Tanganga’s Up And Down Season At The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tanganga was a sporadic presence in Antonio Conte’s squad in the previous campaign as he missed a lot of important games due to a knee injury. The English sensation made 19 appearances for Spurs last season in various competitions.
The 23-year-old was a dominant presence at the back based on his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from inside his half after completing 84.1% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Is Tanganga A Good Option For Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe?
Tanganga is a tough-tackling central defender who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his side on the defensive end of the field. He doesn’t hesitate to clear his lines when needed and excels at playing his way out from the back. Tanganga has mainly operated as a centre-half but can even fill in as a full-back on either flank if his manager needs him to do so.
The English defensive ace is good enough to fight for a regular starting spot at St. James’ Park next season if Eddie Howe can find a way to snap him up during this summer transfer window. However, there are some concerns over the Tottenham sensation’s recent injury record.
At 23, the future is quite promising for Tanganga as long as he continues to improve his game with each season. The English central defender will add more bite and steel to Newcastle‘s backline and increase competition for places within Howe’s match-day squad.
The Tyneside giants are currently looking to build a strong squad for the future. Hence, Tanganga could prove to be a decent, long-term option for them in this off-season as he might help the Magpies challenge for a top-half finish in the Premier League.
