Everton are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga this summer.

What's the news?

According to a recent report from Tuttomercatoweb, the Toffees are one of the clubs - alongside fellow Premier League sides Leeds United and Newcastle United, as well as AC Milan - who are in the mix to sign the defender.

A product of Spurs' youth system, the 23-year-old has made 121 appearances for the north London club across their senior and youth teams, chipping in with six goals and three assists along the way.

He'd be a "special" signing

Despite playing only 11 league games last term, the Englishman amassed some impressive statistics, demonstrating defensive solidity that would make him a special addition to the Everton backline.

Indeed, he made 2.7 clearances, 1.09 tackles, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 interceptions per game, while seeing just five other Spurs players rack up a higher percentage for successful pressures than him (32.7%).

The Toffees have lost two of their opening three league games of the new season, and thus, adding a new defender to the squad who has experience of playing in the Premier League could be a smart move for the Merseyside club, particularly when he's as young and hungry as Tanganga.

Everton have already brought in Conor Coady and James Tarkowski from fellow English clubs this summer, so securing a move for Tanganga would make it a hat-trick for the Toffees.

Praised by Gary Neville for his "special" performance against champions Manchester City last season, he could be exactly that at Goodison, particularly when you consider his superb displays against the Premier League's elite sides.

Indeed, Neville also stated of the defender: “He handled Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish in that channel, with Sanchez and Højbjerg, brilliantly. I couldn’t have done that on my own 20 years ago – and I was a good full-back, played for Manchester United, played for England."

Also lauded as a "beast" by Nick Reilly, Tanganga's versatility would be another notable boon to Lampard, with the defender able to play as a right-back, which could also make him a useful figure for the manager considering the injury issues to the likes of Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina.

The defender has not played a single minute of league action for Antonio Conte's side so far this season, so potentially making a move to Goodison Park - where he may have a better chance of playing regularly and proving himself on a regular basis - could be a very tempting prospect for him, and something which could benefit all parties.

With a reported price tag of €12m (£10m), this is a deal that Everton should not be reluctant to pursue before the summer transfer window closes. Based on the above, it could well be a special addition that digs the team out of the current rot they sit in.