Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Japhet Tanganga to Elland Road this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, who claim that, despite the Tottenham Hotspur defender being heavily linked with a move to AC Milan in recent weeks, Leeds, Newcastle United and Everton have now joined the race for the 23-year-old's signature.

Further reports have suggested that Antonio Conte has informed the former England U21 international that he has no future in north London, with Spurs believed to be open to sanctioning the departure of the versatile centre-back on a season-long loan with a €25m (£21m) obligation to buy clause inserted into the deal.

The new Paul McGrath

While it is true that, following Conte's appointment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year, Tanganga has seen his first team minutes become extremely limited - starting just five Premier League fixtures under the Italian's management - considering just how much potential the defender quite clearly possesses, it is not hard to see why Orta would be interested in the 23-year-old.

Indeed, the £10.8m-rated talent burst onto the Tottenham scene over his six Premier League appearances back in 2019/20, helping his side keep two clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.8 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 4.8 clearances and winning 7.5 duels - at a success rate of 58% - per game.

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These returns saw the £23k-per-week defender who Chris Miller dubbed a "huge talent" average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as Spurs' fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football that season.

Furthermore, according to FBref, despite his limited game time, Tanganga also ranks in the top 7% of centre-backs in Europe's big five leagues and European competitions for progressive carries per 90, in addition to the top 5% for tackles and the top 6% for pressures over the last 365 days - proving his effectiveness at the back, as well as when bringing the ball out of defence.

Further still, following the 23-year-old's impressive display against Liverpool on his Premier League debut, Tony Cascarino went as far as to compare the Spurs starlet to the former Manchester United centre-back and PFA Players' Player of the Year winner Paul McGrath, with the 59-year-old telling talkSPORT:

"Paul McGrath, he reminded me of. The way he played. He runs with pace and you can tell he sees things quickly, he gets there. He made a couple of last-ditch challenges. He was hungry to get in front of the ball and yes it was his debut and adrenaline takes you a long way but he was one of the bright lights."

As such, should Orta manage to beat the likes of Milan, Everton and Newcastle to the signing of Tanganga this summer, the Spaniard could well have unearthed the new McGrath at Elland Road - a prospect that is sure to delight both supporters of the Whites and Jesse Marsch alike.