KANE & ABLE
Debut boy Tanganga unfazed by Liverpool’s stars after facing Harry and Co in training
JAPHET Tanganga’s Tottenham team-mates told him not to fear a debut against Liverpool because he had already tackled Harry Kane.
The centre-back, 20, was a surprise selection for the 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday. But the Hackney-born youngster did well enough to be chosen for Tuesday’s 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay victory over Middlesbrough.
Playing in an unfamiliar rightback role, Tanganga again shone with his pace, strength and willingness to get forward.
But he has yet to be given a first-team locker at the training ground – and did not sleep before taking on Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Co. Tanganga said: “I had nerves leading up to it – a couple of nights I hardly slept. I was thinking those two [Salah and Mane] are probably up there with the best.
“But leading into the game, the boys were telling me Son Heung-Min’s a great player as well. You come up against him in training. Harry Kane, Lucas Moura – they’re top players so you’ve just got to handle them the way you’ve been doing in training.” Tanganga, who has been at Spurs since he was 10, added: “I am pinching myself. After the Liverpool game people were
JOSE MOURINHO is on course to make Porto’s Ze Luis the much-needed back-up to Tottenham striker Harry Kane – but could also bring back Fernando Llorente. Cape Verde striker Ze Luis, 28, has only been at Porto since last July, scoring eight times in 18 matches.
He would need a work permit to move to the Premier League and could struggle to get one, which is why Spurs have not yet closed the door on a deal for congratulating me for my debut but I just wanted to move on to the next one.
“Thankfully the gaffer gave me the opportunity to play against Boro, and again it was just a great feeling. I haven’t played right-back for a while, but if the manager needs me to do a job, I’ll do it.”
Tanganga’s parents are Congolese and he said: “I was really happy to see the joy on dad’s face. He worked so hard for years, sacrificing time off work to take me to games, standing in the cold watching me. I’m so grateful for all that he has given me.”
Tanganga’s one-year contract runs out this summer, but he is in talks over a new one.
AC Milan forward Krzysztof Piatek.
And Llorente, offered to Spurs this week, is an option if they are unable to land any other targets. The 34-year-old spent two seasons in north London, appearing 66 times and scoring 13 goals before joining Napoli last summer.
The move for Ze Luis, above, follows the completion of a £4million 18-month loan deal for Benfica’s Gedson Fernandes to solve Spurs’ problems in the middle of the park. Spurs must make that fee up to £40m if they choose to sign the Portugal midfielder permanently. Christian Eriksen has agreed terms to join Inter Milan but Spurs are holding out for a £20m fee despite the 27-year-old only having six months remaining on his contract.