By Noel Whelan

14th Jul, 2022 | 7:30am

Japhet Tanganga may now complete permanent Tottenham exit after Antonio Conte 'hint' - pundit

Noel Whelan has urged Japhet Tanganga to keep options open to both permanent and loan moves as he attempts to leave Tottenham this summer.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Spurs shouldn’t “stand in the way” of the 23-year-old as he seeks first-team football in the 2022-23 season.

According to The Athletic (8 July), Bournemouth are in talks with Tottenham over a move for Tanganga – with both permanent and loan moves on the table.

The report claims Italian giants AC Milan and Napoli also hold an interest in the defender – who featured 11 times under Antonio Conte last term before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

The Spurs academy product is under contract until June 2025.

Whelan urged the London club to have an “honest conversation” with Tanganga about his future after the signing of fellow centre-back Clement Lenglet.

“You always get a hint from the manager about whether you’re wanted or not wanted,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“I think Conte has proved that he’s not interested.

“Tanganga’s got to go now. Whether it’s a loan move or a permanent move – it doesn’t matter, you just need that first-team football.

“Hopefully the club have had an honest conversation with him already and won’t stand in the way if his representatives start putting his name about and finding him a football club.

“He won’t want to sit on the bench wasting away. He’s got to go out, learn his trade by playing week-in, week-out – and really feel like he belongs somewhere.”

Versatile defender Tanganga can also play on the right side of the defence.

Tottenham are also close to signing right-back Djed Spence – a deal which would push the Englishman even further out of the reckoning.

In other news, Football Insider updates as Euro giants negotiate deal for Tottenham ace.