SKOPJE, MACEDONIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspurs during the UEFA Europa League third round qualifying match between Shkendija and Tottenham Hotspur at National Arena Todor Proeski on September 24, 2020 in Skopje, Macedonia. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
According to reputed football journalist Fabrizio Romano (h/t The Sun), Barcelona are planning a move for Tanguy Ndombele next summer.
It was reported that the player was a target for the Catalan club this summer but with finances tight, no move materialised. The Frenchman has only just started to feature for Spurs on a more regular basis. But Romano believes that the player could leave the club.
The 23-year-old French midfielder started his youth career at FC Epinay Sous Senart in 2002 but moved to FC d’Epinay Athletico after three years. He also had spells at E.S.A Linas-Montlhery and EA Guingamp before finally settling at Amiens.
At Amiens, he spent two years in their B side before being promoted to the senior side in 2016. However he would only stay for a year there making 34 appearances before being sent out on loan to Olympique Lyon. Lyon made his deal permanent the following year and he went on to make close to 100 appearances for the side, scoring 4 goals and assisting 16 more (source – Transfermarkt).
His performances for Lyon attracted the attention of Tottenham. However, he didn’t have the best of first seasons in England as he was excluded by Mourinho for the majority of last season. He has made a return this term though. So far, he has 39 appearances for Spurs overall.
Ndombele has made 6 appearances for the French national team so far, after being a regular for the youth sides.
Barcelona are in full rebuild mode after their horror show against Bayern Munich last season. They replaced Quique Setien with Ronald Koeman, sold off the likes of Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal, and got in fresh legs in the form of Sergino Dest and so on.
The club are still on the lookout for players in quite some positions, midfield being one of them. They were after Georginio Wijnaldum but a deal could not be agreed to (source – The Sun). Tanguy Ndombele is an option they can revisit if a move for Wijnaldum does not work out.
He is a younger option, capable of all-action midfield displays. Having the versatility of playing as a central or defensive midfielder, he would be the perfect option to phase out the ageing Sergio Busquets. Therefore Barcelona should try to sign Ndombele next summer.
