After breaking into Jose Mourinho’s Spurs team, defender Japhet Tanganga is in talks over a new contract according to the Daily Mail.
It would be the least he deserves for such an impressive breakthrough in north London.
What’s the word?
The transfer window has only just closed but Spurs are still firmly locked in negotiations over the future of certain players.
It was reported this week that 18-year-old Troy Parrott was set for a new deal but another player who is in discussions over improved terms is Tanganga.
Per the Daily Mail, he is set to earn a wage increase of 1500%, taking his current salary of £1k per week to £15k.
On top of that, the 20-year-old would receive a lucrative incentive package.
Vertonghen’s replacement?
A new contract for Tanganga would be richly deserved considering the way he’s taken to life in the senior team.
Mourinho handed the youngster his Premier League debut against Liverpool earlier this year and he impressed greatly, putting in an even better performance versus Manchester City in just his third top-flight outing.
Against the Reds, he played at right-back and went onto win a combined six tackles, interceptions and aerial duels. However, when he played at left-back against the current champions, Tanganga won a total of ten aerial battles and ground duels, via WhoScored.
For away day veterans only: Can you name all of these defunct stadiums?
His emergence in the Spurs team has come at exactly the right time given the current predicament with Jan Vertonghen.
The Belgian’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he left the field looking incredibly sad after being withdrawn on 54 minutes against Southampton in the FA Cup.
He was particularly poor in that game, committing an error that led to a shot on goal while losing possession 15 times. Per SofaScore, he also registered a pass success rate of only 68%.
Blessed with the ability to play in a host of defensive positions, namely centre back and on the left-hand side, Tanganga could be the long-term successor for Vertonghen when he does eventually depart.
A new contract is the next step in the defender’s progression and based on early displays, he could fill a big void heading into 2020/21.
Meanwhile, Spurs COULD SIGN someone who was previously compared to Dybala…