Millwall chiefs may struggle to fulfil supporters Tottenham transfer plea: View | OneFootball

Japhet Tanganga has been exceptional this season for Millwall since signing on loan in January, but despite fans calling for him to stay, it could be hard for them to prise the defender away from parent club Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal.

Tanganga was not part of new manager Ange Postecoglou's plans at the start of this season and was sent out on loan to German Bundesliga side Augsburg for the 2023/24 season.

After signing for the club, Tanganga said: "I’m really excited about the chance to play for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga has a really good reputation in England right now and more and more players from the Premier League are choosing to come here."

That chance never materialised for the Hackney native. He failed to make a single competitive appearance in Germany before being recalled in January and sent to Championship club Millwall for the remainder of the season.

The defender's performances south of the river have gained him many plaudits and in a lap of honour following the club's final home game of the season, fans were heard chanting: "We want you to stay."

However, Millwall chiefs may find it hard to fulfil their fans' transfer pleas regarding the future of the 25-year-old defender.

Defeat on Tanganga's Millwall debut left the club in 18th place but a comfortable eight points above the relegation zone. However, no wins in the following five matches saw the club sink to 21st place in the table

With the South Londoners just one point away from the drop zone, manager Joe Edwards was sacked and replaced by former manager Neil Harris, whom Tanganga thrived under.

The defender scored his first professional goal on Harris' return in an incredible 2-1 away victory over promotion hopefuls Southampton. Two wins and a draw followed in his next three games, where Tanganga helped the club to two clean sheets and also scored another goal, a 90th-minute winner against relegation rivals Birmingham City.

The Lions have since pulled clear of the relegation zone into 16th place and are confirmed a spot in the 2024/25 championship season. They could even finish as high as 13th place after the final round of fixtures.

The partnership that Tanganga has formed at centre-back with Jake Cooper has been a key part of the turnaround at The Den but it feels unlikely they will reprise it next term.

Millwall chiefs may struggle to sign Tanganga on a permanent deal

Millwall may well have confirmed second-tier football for another season but Tanganga's future remains unclear.

The Lions will likely struggle to convince him to stay south of the river for another season given his top-level football experience. The 25-year-old has played in 27 Premier League matches as well as featuring in all three major UEFA European club competitions for Spurs. He has also been capped by England at every level from U16 to U21.

His future in North London is uncertain given the quality that Spurs possess in a defence boasting Argentinian World Cup winner Cristian Romero and Netherlands international Micky van de Ven in their ranks.

However, given Tanganga's contract runs only until the end of next year, Tottenham will surely look to cash in on him for a fee this summer and given he's rejuvenation at The Den, they shouldn't be short of options.

The defender has been a vital part of Millwall's late surge away from the relegation zone with some stellar performances in South London under manager Neil Harris.

But despite calls from the fans, it could be hard for the club's chiefs to sign the player on a permanent deal from Spurs given his top-level pedigree and obviously high ceiling.

At 25 years old, Tanganga is approaching his best years and it feels like he needs a fresh start but Millwall are unlikely to be able to stump up the cash it would cost to sign him permanently.