Spurs kid Japhet gets deal worth £20k a week

TOTTENHAM rookie defender Japhet Tanganga is set to be rewarded with an astonishing pay rise from £1,000 to £15,000 a week. The club hope he will sign the new long-term deal soon, which would be topped up by incentives to nearer £20,000 a week and the promise of another new contract and pay rise after a certain number of first-team appearances. There was some negativity over Tanganga, 20, when discussions started towards the end of last year but his recent emergence as a key member of Jose Mourinho’s first team has resulted in Tottenham speeding up talks. Mourinho handed Tanganga (below) his Premier League debut in January, starting the versatile defender in the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool. He has started all but one of Spurs’ matches since then. Tanganga, who has played for England Under 20s, is now set for an Under 21s call-up against Andorra and Turkey next month. His emergence has coincided with Jan Vertonghen’s decline in form. The 32-year-old Belgian’s time at Tottenham appears at an end, with no contract extension in sight. He was upset by being substituted in the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Southampton. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ryan Sessegnon has admitted he is struggling to get to grips with the Premier League following his £25million move from Fulham. He said after Wednesday’s 3-2 victory against Southampton: ‘I try to be positive and in recent weeks when I’ve had the chance it’s probably been a bit negative. ‘When I came to Spurs, it was tough at the start but I’m starting to find my feet and the more games I play the more confident I am. I set my standards very high.’

lSPURS’ Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott, whose contract had 18 months left, has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal. But Mourinho has failed to stop talented central defender Luis Binks, 18, joining Thierry Henry’s Montreal Impact.