According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Tottenham will only look to sign a centre-back if Japhet Tanganga leaves before the deadline on Thursday.
Jones believes Antonio Conte will make a late move to sign a central defender after the boyhood Spurs fan hasn’t played a minute this season and has been strongly linked away from north London for the majority of the window.
Tanganga has previously been linked with both AC Milan and Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest are the latest club to express an interest in him. Tanganga has fallen down the pecking order under Conte and is unlikely to play much football despite the busy schedule ahead of the World Cup.
According to The Athletic, the newly-promoted Premier League side are ‘exploring’ a permanent deal for Tanganga, while Tottenham remain in talks with AC Milan about a move to San Siro.
With Joe Rodon already loaned out to Rennes in order for him to get more regular game time ahead of the World Cup, Jones believes Conte will have to replace Tanganga if he does the same before Thursday and has already prepared a list of names. He told GIVEMSPORT:
“They’ve got a list of names they’re willing to go for, but I don’t think they will go for it if Tanganga doesn’t leave, that’s my understanding anyway.”
If Tanganga goes, Spurs will be left with 5 centre-backs which although sounds sufficient but with Conte’s system of 3 central defenders, it is not, keeping in mind the busy games schedule ahead.
With Cristian Romero’s hamstring problems causing him to miss the last two games and the end of last season, Spurs are unlikely to risk not signing someone.