Southampton eyeing Spurs’ Japhet Tanganga as potential Maitland-Niles alternative

by Vijievan Jeevathayalan @VijJeeva share

3 minute read 1/2/2021 | 02:35pm

According to the Chief Football Writer at the PA, Simon Peach, Southampton are lining up  Japhet Tanganga as a deadline day transfer alternative to Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

What’s the story?

Reports during the early hours of deadline day seemed to suggest that Maitland-Niles was on his way to Southampton, with Football.London’s Arsenal correspondent Chris Wheatley even claiming that the Saints were “growing in confidence” over his signing.

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But after it was revealed that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side had pulled out of the race to sign Maitland-Niles, it’s now being suggested by Peach that Tottenham’s Tanganga is being viewed as a potential alternative.

#SaintsFC are eyeing a move for #THFC's Japhet Tanganga having pulled out of a deal for Ainsley Maitland-Niles

— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) February 1, 2021

A boost for Hasenhuttl

After seeing his side pull out of negotiations for Maitland-Niles, Hasenhuttl would have been very worried about his club’s transfer committee would look to strengthen his squad before the end of deadline day.

In Tanganga, the Saints boss would be getting someone who is more than capable of playing at centre-back and as a right-back, and that makes him an intriguing alternative to someone like Maitland-Niles.

The £7.2m-rated Tanganga has been described as “highly coachable” by a source to The Athletic, and at 21, would bring a similar sense of youth and energy like a Maitland-Niles.

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Crucially, the Spurs ace’s ability to operate as a full-back would be much appreciated by Hasenhuttl who has seen the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters go down with injury.

Whether Southampton can get a deal done remains to be seen, but it must be reassuring for the Saints boss that his club appear to be doing everything they can to get some kind of reinforcement in.

Meanwhile, David Ornstein has revealed Southampton are in for this Championship star…