'Wow...Magnificent' - Hutton reacts as Spurs close in on new deal with 'lots of clubs sniffing'

Alan Hutton insists Tottenham are making a "great decision" as they try to get Japhet Tanganga to commit to a new contract in north London.

The former Spurs and Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, admits he has been left in awe of the versatile defender during what has been his breakthrough season.

As revealed exclusively by Football Insider, the club are in advanced talks over tying the 20-year-old down to a new contract after he turned down an offer back in November.

Hutton claims that there will be a lot of interest in Tanganga from rivals both in England and abroad and that a new contract is important to ward off suitors.

Hutton told Football Insider: "Moving forward, he's so young, I totally agree with why Tottenham are trying to tie him down to a new deal.

"There will be lots of clubs sniffing about, foreign and local. It's a great decision to tie him down. 

"Let's face it, he came out of nowhere, I don't think a lot of people knew about him. It was the Liverpool game, he got thrown in at the deep end and wow, did he handle it - I thought he was magnificent that game.

"Obviously it's about keeping your standards high. Everybody now thinks what a player, that's the standards." 

Tanganga has played just 11 times for the Lilywhites since breaking through the youth ranks, emerging as a genuine first-team option for Jose Mourinho.

He has demonstrated his versatility, playing on both flanks as a full-back as well as a centre-half.

In other Tottenham news, it can be REVEALED that Mourinho has told friends 29-year-old won’t ever play for Spurs again.