Report: Mourinho sees Tottenham star as plan B, Manchester United ace first choice

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CalcioMercato claim that Jose Mourinho sees signing Tottenham ace Japhet Tanganga for Roma as a plan-B option – behind Manchester United outcast Eric Bailly this summer. Mourinho is keen to sign a central defender.

Tanganga, 23, has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of Antonio Conte. The England Under-21 defender has suffered with numerous injuries while the Italian has been in charge and he is likely to be moved on this summer.

Spurs want Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo and reports claim that Fabio Paratici is willing to include him in a swap deal. The latest report states that Tanganga is an option for Roma – but Roma are focusing their attention on Bailly.

Indeed, reports last week state that Mourinho’s Roma were in talks to land Bailly – a £30million signing for United. Now, it is believed that Roma prefer a move for Bailly to Tanganga, with the Spurs man considered a plan B option.

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Mourinho sees Tottenham ace Tanganga a plan-B option behind Bailly

It is an interesting one. Tanganga offers more versatility and is younger. But he might cost a bit more in terms of transfer fees to sign. Even though a loan deal might be possible for the Tottenham academy product.

Bailly is likely to be allowed to leave on the cheap, but his wages are higher – and he is older. It might purely be that Manchester United are keen to offload Bailly more so than Spurs with Tanganga. Or, that Spurs want Zaniolo.

Tottenham could be playing hardball and will only allow Tanganga to go to Roma if he is included in a deal for Zaniolo. The next few weeks will be intriguing to see who Roma add to Mourinho’s defence, having worked with both players.

For Bailly and Tanganga, both players will surely be keen on a move to join Europa Conference League winners Roma. They will be competing in the Europa League this season.