Exclusive: Sheffield United eyeing move for Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga | OneFootball

The Blades are moving on to Japhet Tanganga after Premier League interest emerged for Bobby Thomas

Sheffield United have turned their attentions to Millwall centre-back Japhet Tanganga in their search for multiple new centre-backs, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.

The Blades have had a torrid start to the 2025-26 Championship season, with back-to-back defeats against Bristol City and Swansea City under new head coach Rubén Sellés - the former being the more embarrasing of the two as they were hammered 4-1 on home soil by the Robins.

Having lost Anel Ahmedhodzic to Dutch giants Feyenoord on the eve of the new season, Sellés has been severely depleted with options in the middle of his defence, with both Jack Robinson and Rhys Norrington-Davies also linked away at the same time to Wrexham and QPR respectively.

The need for fresh faces in Sellés' back-line is evident, and they're looking into a raid of another Championship rival after trying their luck with Coventry City last week.

Sheffield United weighing up Millwall, Japhet Tanganga swoop

FLW has been told that Sheffield United are interested in a move for Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga in a bid to add some defensive steel before the September 1 deadline.

The 26-year-old, who has Premier League experience having played 27 top flight games for Tottenham earlier in his career, has been at the Lions since January 2024, initially signing for the South Bermondsey outfit on loan for the remainder of 2023-24, before turning that into a permanent contract on a long-term basis last summer.

Tanganga impressed at The Den enough last season to the point where he was named the club's Player of the Year, but that has only intensified transfer interest over the course of the last couple of months.

In a transfer twist though, it was revealed in June that Tanganga's contract included a £1.2 million release clause that could only be triggered by active Premier League clubs - as of yet though, no-one has taken that chance on the former England youth international, and Sheffield United are now ready to test Millwall's resolve.

It will take a higher bid than that though to make Millwall merely consider cashing in on Tanganga's services, especially as Italian clubs have been having offers turned down this summer - namely Hellas Verona and Sassuolo, with the latter seeing a £3.47 million bid snubbed.

Despite nearing a move for Malmo centre-half Nils Zatterstrom, Sheffield United want more than one permanent new centre-back, and interest in Tanganga could spell the end of their pursuit of another Championship defender - Bobby Thomas.

News emerged last week that the Blades had lodged a stunning £8 million bid for the 24-year-old Coventry City man, who had spent the last two seasons with the Sky Blues following his move from Burnley.

Ironically though, it has been claimed that the Clarets have joined the race to re-sign Thomas, with Brentford also keen on raiding Frank Lampard's side for his services, and such top flight interest may put Sheffield United out of the race.