Centre back too important to Tottenham, swap deal not on cards

Italian publication Calciomercato.it suggests there is a chance Tottenham could send Japhet Tanganga to Juventus in return for Dejan Kulusevski.

Cartilage Free Captain yesterday published a great piece about the speculative proposition. Dustin George-Miller wrote about the reputability of Calciomercato.it, or lack their of. I’m onboard with his assertions about the Italian publication’s rather questionable credibility.

While George-Miller questions the validity of the rumours, he does believe there is a chance Tottenham are open to sending Tanganga to Juventus. I respectfully disagree.

First, Tottenham still require Tanganga’s services. His level obviously hasn’t been up to snuff this season, but that doesn’t mean Spurs can afford to see the 22-year-old leave Hotspur Way, even if only on a temporary basis.

Tanganga is ahead of Joe Rodon in the pecking order and, until Cristian Romero returns from injury, is Tottenham’s fourth choice centre back. If something happens to Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez or Ben Davies, Tanganga needs to be ready to fill the big-boy shoes. Even if Spurs’ three healthy first choice centre backs are fortunate enough to avoid the injury bug, one of them will invariably require rest at some point.

When that time comes, Tanganga is once again scribed onto Antonio Conte‘s first-choice team sheet. While Conte is determined to sign an accomplished centre back in the near future, he can’t depend on ifs, maybes and speculative possibilities. He can only rely on players who currently ply their trade for Tottenham Hotspur.

Furthermore, centre back isn’t the only position in which Tanganga is useful. He can also step into the right wingback role, if only in emergency situations.

Matt Doherty is a dead man walking in north London, which, when Doherty is shown the door, could leave Spurs devoid of backup options. Emerson Royal needs an understudy. Tanganga is by no means suited to fill that specific role, but, for lack of alternatives, he is Tottenham’s emergency right wingback option.

Tottenham are inching closer to signing Adama Traore, but until that deal is confirmed, Conte can ill-afford to see Tanganga depart Hotspur Way.

Spurs have invested too much time and energy in Tanganga to see him leave for Italy. I can’t see the 22-year-old English defender getting any more first team action with the Old Lady than he currently does at Spurs.

So leaving to reserve a permanent position on Juventus’ bench would only stunt his development. If consistent playing time in Turin awaits Tanganga, I’m all for it. That possibility seems rather farfetched though.