“Sunderland’s Shock Target: Mourinho’s ‘Fast and Fearless’ Former Defender
Sunderland Eye Former Tottenham Defender Once Lauded by Jose Mourinho
Sunderland fans have plenty to be excited about as the Black Cats gear up for their return to the Premier League. With promotion secured, the transfer rumor mill is in full swing.
One of the latest developments links Sunderland with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, who is currently on the books at Millwall. The 26-year-old has also attracted interest from Leeds United and Burnley.
Earlier today, reports also connected Sunderland with Scottish talent Lennon Miller, an 18-year-old midfielder from Motherwell who is also being monitored by Celtic. Additionally, the club is reportedly in the mix for 22-year-old French striker Matthis Abline of Nantes, though they face stiff competition from Marseille, Burnley, Brentford, and Paris FC.
Now, the spotlight is on Tanganga. According to GiveMeSport, both Sunderland and Leeds have been keeping tabs on the versatile defender. Tanganga is believed to have a release clause of under £2 million—an affordable figure for top-tier clubs.
Burnley are said to be the most interested of the three, with manager Scott Parker known to be a long-time admirer of Tanganga’s flexibility—capable of playing in either a back three or a back four.
“Leeds and Sunderland have been tracking him for a while,” says Sam Cohen of GiveMeSport. “They both see Tanganga as a player with significant upside, someone who could help them remain in the Premier League.”
Tanganga was previously praised by José Mourinho during his time at Tottenham, with the former Spurs boss highlighting the defender’s speed and work ethic.
“He’s a good kid, working hard for years… He’s fast, very fast. We need fast players when we face opponents who excel in exploiting space behind the defense,” Mourinho once said.
As the summer window progresses, it remains to be seen where Tanganga’s next move will take him—but he’s certainly a name to watch.
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