Japhet Tanganga could soon become Spurs‘ starting right-back by default, as Serge Aurier heads ever closer to the exit door, with a number of big clubs surprisingly linked with his signature, including former team Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The Ivory Coast captain has failed to live up to expectation since his 2017 move from the current French champions, where he was shown the exit door after a big public falling out with a number of PSG staff and Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
However, some reports have claimed that the 28-year-old, who will be in his final year of his contract next season should he stay, has been offered a long-term deal at PSG after a bid from Mauricio Pochettino’s team has already been accepted.
#thfc have accepted a bid from PSG for Serge Aurier. PSG have now made a big contract offer to the right-back. A transfer sealing his return is almost complete. [Football Insider]
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) May 17, 2021
Meanwhile, Madrid and AC Milan are also interested to conclude a deal for the defender, with Spurs set to demand around £10 million in order to raise funds for a replacement.
https://twitter.com/southern_dale/status/1387672456463327233?s=20
Max Aarons is one name who has been heavily linked over the last two years, and Spurs fans are desperate for him to come to the club, while Wolfsburg’s Ridle Baku, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vasquez and Nice’s Youcef Atal are all players that could also be on the shortlist to replace Aurier.
Many Spurs fans have been expecting England U21 international Tanganga to make the right-back position his own after impressing in most of his appearances, which have been limited this season after Matt Doherty’s arrival from Wolves.
Lastnights stream highlights:
My thoughts on Japhet Tanganga having similar traits to Ledley King 🙏🏻
This kinda sent the stream nuts 😂@FuadCadani @CenkCOYS @tapintobs
Link to the stream: https://t.co/FyNnxRY9TW pic.twitter.com/mwwWZOPVYz
— Henry Wright TV (@HenryWright96) May 17, 2021
Doherty, 29, has had a successful first season at Spurs, and former goalkeeper Paul Robinson has already tipped him to leave after one season, but interim manager Ryan Mason played down any rumours surrounding the Irishman’s future after Tanganga was preferred to him to face Wolves.
“We just feel the dynamic felt right with a more defence-minded player in that position with their threat,” said Mason.
“It paid off today. I am sure if we hadn’t won today it would have been a criticism of me not starting Matt.
“Japhet was excellent, the team was excellent, Matt’s been excellent all week, he is ready to play, he has trained very well.”
It remains to be seen whether or not Doherty will be sold too on top of Aurier, but if the Ivorian does leave, we expect Tanganga to be trusted next season in a more important role with the squad.