Report: Jose Mourinho makes last minute move to hijack deal for ‘amazing’ Spurs player

Tottenham have been trying to get rid of Japhet Tanganga all summer with the defender heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

It was reported earlier this week that the player has reached an agreement with AC Milan ,but Spurs’ demands were becoming an obstacle. However, according to Il Tempo (page 16, July 31, 2022), AS Roma are reportedly eying to hijack the AC Milan deal for Tanganga. And now, Milan News has reported that ‘in the last few hours’ Mourinho’s Roma has approached Spurs for the Englishman.

As per the reports, Mourinho is a big fan of the defender and is ‘very keen on bringing Tanganga to Roma’. The former Spurs manager is looking to improve his defense at Roma and has identified the 23-year-old as one of the options.

Roma would also reportedly offer a loan deal which Spurs are open to, however, Tottenham wants an obligation to buy clause in the agreement, a demand which has stalled AC Milan’s deal with the player.

Mourinho helped Tangana launch his career at Spurs after giving him the opportunity with the first team. He made his debut under him in Tottenham’s League Cup game vs Colchester in 2019 and subsequently made his Premier League debut against Liverpool in January where had had an excellent game.

After the Liverpool game, Mourinho told the Evening Standard:

“The kid has reason to be very happy with his level, not with the result obviously, but with his first game in the Premier League.

“It couldn’t be a bigger one and he did it amazingly.

First on the right and then on the left, first [Sadio] Mane and then [Mohamed] Salah, and I think he was fantastic so I don’t want to take any credit for that.

“I worked with him only for a couple of months, I think academy, coaches who worked with him for so many years.

“I think it’s a good moment for him and I think it’s also a message for the kids in the academy that when the player is the right player with the right attitude and right qualities, the opportunity arises.”

Spurs now have an offer from two Italian giants who have reportedly made the same offer for the Englishman. From the player’s point of view, a move to Roma would make sense as he is going to play under a manager who trusted him to give him the opportunity at Spurs and knows him well. However, It is interesting to see how flexible Levy will be in his negotiations. If Spurs don’t become softer in their demand, both clubs could potentially not go through with the deal.