Celtic could pip other clubs to the signing of Tottenham youngster Japhet Tanganga this summer, according to former Scottish top-flight striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Tanganga linked with Celtic

Ange Postecoglou may still be eyeing up new signings ahead of the new Premiership season as he looks to make his squad even more formidable.

One player who has been linked with a move to Celtic recently is Tanganga, who has made 43 appearances for Spurs to date but has never been a first-team regular in north London.

However, the Hoops are joined by other clubs in the race to sign the 23-year-old, including AC Milan, Bournemouth and AS Monaco.

The Latest: Celtic backed to sign Tanganga

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the lure of Champions League football could give Celtic the edge over some clubs, tipping them to snap up Tanganga this summer.

The 47-year-old said:

"It’s an attractive proposition [Champions League football], isn’t it? You also know you’re going to be up there fighting for every competition domestically and playing in front of 60,000 every week.

"We’ve seen Carter-Vickers go from Tottenham to Celtic, and we’ve seen it work. I’m sure they’ll have had chit-chats about what it’s like if this interest is real.

"Playing in the Champions League is a massive plus and will be a massive temptation for any player, whether they currently play in the Premier League or not."

The Verdict: Great squad option

Tanganga would be an exciting signing by Celtic if he were to depart Spurs, having been hailed as an 'amazing' player by Jose Mourinho, under whom the defender played for the best part of 18 months in north London.

The Englishman could provide stiff competition to the likes of former N17 colleague Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt at the heart of the defence, while also being capable of playing at right-back.

At 23, Tanganga is slowly edging towards the peak years of his career, and he may see a better chance of enjoying regular playing time at Celtic than Spurs, where his current deal expires in 2025.