Everton must act quickly for Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga
Everton will have to move quickly if they are serious about signing Japhet Tanganga from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported via their print edition on 17 July (page three) that the Toffees are one of the four clubs interested in signing Tanganga.
The report added that the Toffees are facing competition from the likes of AC Milan, Valencia and Premier League rivals Brentford for the signature of the 23-year-old.
Sky Sports have reported via their transfer live blog on 18 July (12:46 pm) that AC Milan have opened talks with Spurs to sign the Spurs defender.
The north London club are ready to let the player go this summer.
Tanganga showed great promise under Jose Mourinho, but he has dropped down the pecking order at the club since last season. It seems Antonio Conte doesn’t rate him highly enough.
Last season (2021-22), he made 11 appearances in the Premier League. He is a versatile defender who can play as both right-back and centre-back.
The 23-year-old is a solid defender and he would be a brilliant addition for the Toffees. But the question is – do the Toffees need another defender?
At the moment, Frank Lampard has five centre-backs, and unless he ships out one or two players, there isn’t room for another defender.
The right-back slot can be an option, though. Nathan Patterson is expected to feature regularly, and Seamus Coleman is still around. However, Tanganga can be seen as his long-term replacement.
To be fair, Everton need to bolster other areas of the pitch at the moment, but if Lampard genuinely wants him, this is the right time to move.