Tottenham have reportedly added Aston Villa goalkeeper and World Cup finalist Emi Martinez to their shortlist as they look to replace Hugo Lloris in the coming months – and Japhet Tanganga could give them a crucial trump card.
Martinez, 30, has been brilliant for Villa. Joining the club after so many years as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper, he has starred between the sticks for the Midlands club. Clocking up 30 clean sheets in 91 games, he is Argentina’s no.1.
But Dean Jones reports that Martinez, who is set to win his 26th cap for his country on Sunday in the World Cup final, is a target for Spurs. He is being considered as the man to replace the goalkeeper he will face this weekend, Lloris.
Spurs could do a lot worse than Martinez – even if he is an ex-Arsenal player. Of course, his time at Arsenal is not one he will look at favourably, managing just 38 appearances in a decade. Villa will not want to lose such a crucial player.
But, if they are going to sell, Spurs will have to tempt them. A big cash offer? Perhaps. But maybe, they might just have a trump card up their sleeve that would tempt Villa into cashing in. That could come in the form of Japhet Tanganga.
Tanganga trump card as Tottenham add Martinez to shortlist
Back in the summer, Italian journalist Gianluca Longari reported that Aston Villa had opened talks to sign Tanganga. Villa’s need for defenders came after an injury to Diego Carlos. The club brought in Jan Bednarek in as cover.
While the need for a centre-back at Villa is less so, especially with Carlos due to return soon, Bednarek has hardly set the world alight. Tyrone Mings is no longer an England player and Villa lack cover on the right for Matty Cash.
Clearly, there are admirers at Villa for Tanganga. So, if Villa do not want to sell Martinez – Spurs have got to consider throwing Tanganga in a deal to land the Argentine goalkeeper. He could just be the difference in getting a deal done.
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