View: It is time for defender Japhet Tanganga to move on from Tottenham
It just hasn’t worked out for Japhet Tanganga at Tottenham after his emergence from the club’s academy.
Roared off by 60,000 plus in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 15 August 2021 after a man-of-the-match display against Manchester City, the future seemed bright for Tanganga.
It was just his 14th start in the Premier League, and while filling in at right-back, he was instrumental in his side’s 1-0 win over the eventual champions as he made two clearances, two tackles, one interception, one block and completed 90 per cent of his passes (Sofascore).
Since then, it just hasn’t worked out for the 24-year-old. He has yet to truly kick on and is slowly transitioning from a young prospect who needs time into an underperforming squad player who needs a fresh start.
Tanganga has spent his whole career with Spurs, joining the club in 2009, moving through the ranks at youth level and with his 25th birthday approaching this season, now is the time for change.
The Englishman has been close to a move away in the past, yet nothing has materialised, and with his opportunities in North London rapidly diminishing, now would be the right time for both parties to go their separate ways.
During the 2021/22 season, he made 11 appearances in the Premier League and it seemed as if he was going to start featuring more regularly from this point onward. However, he made just four appearances in the league last year and his minutes in Lillywhite are only decreasing, not increasing.
In all honesty, he did very little in his 11 appearcnes during the 2021/22 season to warrant more game time last year. His defensive numbers were some of the worst in the league compared to his positional peers.
As per FBREF, he was in the 30th percentile for the number of tackles he made (1.71 per 90), the 27th percentile for the number of tackles he won (0.98 per 90) and the 36th percentile for his number of interceptions (1.10 per 90).
Although he was in the top nine per cent for the number of blocks he made (1.59 per 90) and the top five per cent for his clearances (3.85 per 90), this just underlines he does not possess the qualities required of a defender in Ange Postecoglou’s system.
The Australian prefers to defend high up the pitch and squeeze the opposition while maintaining possession and Tanganga’s lowly 0.12 tackles made in the attacking third per 90 combined with his underwhelming number of progressive passes, 2.45 per 90, suggests it would not be the right fit.
Football London has reported (24 July) that the club are prepared to listen to offers with their academy graduate unlikely to get much game time this season.
In pre-season, the defender has also been doing very little to argue his case. Against West Ham, the centre-back was partly at fault for the second goal his side conceded.
Hammers striker Divin Mubama was able to ghost in between Tanganga and Pedro Porro to head home a second goal for the East London side.
Every supporter wants an academy graduate to come through and thrive at their club, as the player knows just as well as the fans what it means. However, sometimes it just isn’t meant to be and although there have been signs of promise, it certainly feels that way in the case of Tanganga and now is as good a time as any for a transfer.
In other Tottenham news, a midfielder linked with a move to the club could be a gamble for Postecoglou and Spurs.