Dreaming of Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele

With the pre-season campaign less than two weeks away, many Spurs fans are starting to get agitated over the lack of summer signings. It’s a common theme: The last two windows have not seen a single arrival at the club and it’s been more than 18 months since Lucas Moura made the switch from Paris to North London.

Will the wait soon be over and if so, who will be the first man through the entrance door at the new White Hart Lane?

Lyon Approach?

According to the press, manager Mauricio Pochettino’s number one target is the Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. The name has been featuring in the gossip columns for at least two weeks now and while many reports have suggested that a deal was close, we have seen nothing along the lines of confirmed news.

The employment of a defensive midfielder does seem to be the first logical move ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. Mousa Dembele has left the club and there are doubts over Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier. In all probability, many can see Dier remaining at White Hart Lane with Wanyama leaving so, does Ndombele come into that equation?

The Stats

Tanguy Ndombele is just 22 years old and has been with current employers Lyon since the start of the 2017/18 campaign. Initially, that involved a loan deal from former club Amiens which was made permanent in 2018.

The player made his first team debut with Amiens at the age of just 16 so clearly he’s been marked down as a precocious talent for some time. He has also been recognised at full international level and, having made his senior debut for France in 2018, he now has four caps.

Not surprisingly, the transfer fee may be the stumbling block here. Lyon are said to be holding out for a sum close to £70 million and, while Spurs are the player’s preferred destination, the two clubs are not close to an agreement on price.

At least that’s what the papers say but few of us would be surprised if this deal is stalling due to the Chairman’s wheeling and dealing. That type of figure would shatter our current transfer record but, as a supposed number one priority, it seems that this is where we need to be.

All Gone Quiet Over There

Elsewhere, things are quiet in relation to a couple of reported leads and that’s likely to be down to international commitments. Ryan Sessegnon is away with the under 21s while Giovani Lo Celso is also being kept busy by Argentina.

We may, therefore, be some way away from making our first signing for more than 16 months. At least, as far as this transfer window is concerned, it must be a case of when and not if. The concern, however, is that we’re leaving it late once again and while international call ups are playing a part, it would be nice to see some dealing done and some new players in place ahead of the pre-season schedule.

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