Millwall dealt huge boost in transfer pursuit of 'outstanding' Premier League star

Millwall have been dealt a huge boost in the transfer pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga this summer.

The 25-year-old spent the back half of the 2023/24 season on loan at The Den and turned in a series of impressive performances as he excelled under Neil Harris. Tanganga made 18 Championship appearances as Millwall climbed to safety, scoring two vital goals against Southampton and Birmingham City in the process.

Harris has made his desire to bring the loan star back to the club on a permanent deal no secret as he prepares for the upcoming Championship campaign. However, any potential deal had been hit with some question marks amid reports that the player may weigh up other offers before agreeing on a return to Millwall.

Tanganga's contract at Spurs was due to expire this summer but the club also held an option for another year with the player. Triggering the clause would have allowed the Premier League outfit to demand a transfer fee for the player's services.

However, on Wednesday morning, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the club's released list and Tanganga was among the names to be made a free agent this summer. A statement read: "We can confirm the departures of Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Japhet Tanganga following the conclusion of their contracts.

"Central defender Japhet is a product of our Academy system and enjoyed his breakthrough campaign at first team level with us in 2019/20, memorably making his Premier League debut from the start against Liverpool in January of that season. Japhet went on to make 50 senior competitive appearances in our colours before embarking on loan spells at FC Augsburg in Germany and latterly Millwall during the recently-concluded campaign."

Watch - The Premier League Panel: What's up with Chelsea?

Tanganga will no doubt attract interest from other clubs with his services available without a transfer fee, but it lands Millwall as frontrunners again. The London outfit had reportedly agreed a fee with Spurs in May.

Harris, who hailed Tanganga as 'outstanding' during his loan spell with the club, told the South London Press: "It’s really important that everybody understands, not just Neil Harris and his team-mates, but the whole football club is a big fan of Japhet Tanganga.

“I think I have made that clear in previous articles – I would love to work with him. Japhet is a player who will be in demand over this transfer window.

“As a football club, sometimes, we can only push as far when we go through a process which is involving individuals, agents and football clubs. It’s safe to say that we have pushed hard to see if Japhet is a possibility for us in this window."