Tottenham ‘very happy’ at Newcastle offer for defender as AC Milan circle

Will Ford
Tottenham defender Tanganga

Tottenham would be ‘very happy’ if Newcastle made an offer for Japhet Tanganga, as reports claim the centre-back is on the Magpies’ radar.

Tanganga started ten Premier League games last season for Spurs, before injury ruled him out of the second half of the campaign.


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The loan signing of Clement Lenglet is likely to reduce his game time next season under Antonio Conte, who also has Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez as options at centre-back.

Spurs are also said to be ‘on the verge’ of reaching a ‘full agreement’ with Middlesbrough over the signing of Djed Spence, who would join Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty in providing competition at right-back, Tanganga’s other position.

Such strength in depth has sparked rumours of a departure for Tanganga, with a report last week claiming he has been ‘made available for loan’, citing Bournemouth among the interested parties.

And now Tuttomercatoweb (via Mirror) claim the 23-year-old is ‘on Newcastle’s radar’, and that they want him on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy.

Spurs would reportedly be ‘very happy’ with such an offer, with AC Milan also said to still be ‘keen’ on landing the defender.

And Tanganga could yet face further competition for his place should he remain at Spurs as Fenerbache defender Kim Min-jae is reportedly ‘hoping’ to join the club this summer.

Following spells in South Korea and China, Min-jae signed for Fenerbache ahead of the 2021/22 campaign for around €3m.

The centre-back played 40 times for the Turkish side last term and this includes several outings in the Europa League.

Area Napoli (via Sport Witness) are reporting that Min-jae – Son Heung-Min’s international teammate – is being considered by the Italian side as a replacement for Kalibou Kouliblay. The Senegal international is set to sign for Chelsea.

A separate report from Corriere del Mezzogiorno notes that Napoli ‘must beat competition’ from Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

The player is ‘hoping’ to join Tottenham, but it is noted that Antonio Conte ‘has made other choices for the heart of his defence’.

Fenerbache are clear that they want Min-Jae’s €18m exit clause ‘to be paid in one shot’ this summer.