LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Tottenham Hotspur welcome their team prior to the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and BSC Young Boys at White Hart Lane on August 25, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Japhet Tanganga stalls over transfer exit as Arsenal set to play key role
EXCLUSIVE: Japhet Tanganga is edging towards a summer move after slipping down the Tottenham pecking order.
Japhet Tanganga is weighing up loan offers from Luton Town and Inter Milan as he looks to secure regular football away from Tottenham. The two clubs in question have both shown strong interest in the 24-year-old, although where Tanganga ends up could depend on Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal.
Tanganga made only seven appearances in all competitions last season. Having been left out of Ange Postecoglou’s first matchday squad for the 2-2 draw against Brentford last weekend, it is already evident that a move elsewhere is likely to be the defender’s best course of action
With 50 first-team matches under his belt for the Lilywhites, Tanganga has piqued the interest of sides in various European leagues this summer. But as the transfer deadline approaches, Luton and Inter have moved to the front of the queue.
Express Sport understands that the Hatters are making progress in negotiations to take the Hackney-born star on a season-long loan.
Don’t miss… FPL injury news as Chelsea suffer major blow and Man Utd change likely [LATEST]
Japhet Tanganga has loan offers from Luton Town and Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)
Tanganga’s preference, however, would be a move to Serie A giants Inter. The Nerazzurri are expected to table a loan offer of their own if they miss out on top defensive target Benjamin Pavard, with the Tottenham man prepared to wait for the saga to run its course before making a final decision on his future.
Pavard has informed Bayern Munich of his wish to leave this summer, but Inter are still some way away from meeting his £38million price tag
Arsenal could effectively pave the way for Tanganga to join Simone Inzaghi at the San Siro if they pinch Pavard from under Inter’s noses.
The Gunners are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for 27-year-old after Jurrien Timber was struck down with a devastating ACL injury. The status of Inter’s move for Pavard, and its potential knock-on effect for Tanganga, is expected to become clear next week.
Luton have already made seven permanent signings this summer in preparation for their first-ever season in the Premier League. Rob Edwards’ side kicked off the campaign with a resounding 4-1 defeat at Brighton.
Arsenal’s interest in Benjamin Pavard could effectively dete
Tanganga made his debut for Spurs in 2019, while he boasts caps at virtually every England youth level up to the under-21s. But Postecoglou already has a wealth of defenders to choose from at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier and Cristian Romero are currently fighting it out for minutes, while summer moves for centre-backs Ashley Phillips and Micky van de Ven have made matters even more complicated.
