According to a recent report by the Independent, Tottenham Hotspur are not willing to sanction Tanguy Ndombele’s exit despite recent reports linking him with a loan move to Liverpool this summer. The same source has stated that Spurs have no intention of letting the French midfielder leave either on loan or permanently during the summer transfer period.
Ndombele’s Lacklustre Debut Campaign At North London
The North London outfit paid a club-record fee of €60m plus add-ons to sign the talented playmaker from Olympique Lyonnais last summer, so it is no surprise that they are reluctant to give up on the player in this off-season. Ndombele has endured an underwhelming debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after struggling to earn regular first-team starts under the expert stewardship of Jose Mourinho so far.
Frequent injuries have also hampered his progress at the English capital, which was followed by Mourinho publicly criticising his performance after the 1-1 draw away at Burnley earlier this year. Ndombele has participated in 27 matches for Spurs this term, registering two goals and four assists in all competitions which is quite subpar for a midfielder of his attacking potential.
The Longjumeau-born playmaker has averaged 1.2 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.5 shots, 0.6 key passes and 2.0 dribbles in every 90 minutes of league football this season (stats via whoscored). He has performed slightly better in Europe after averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 0.7 shots, 1.3 key passes and 2.8 dribbles per game in the UEFA Champions League so far (stats via whoscored).
The 23-year-old has also made six senior appearances for the French national side but is still waiting to net his first goal at the international stage. He has to find a way to return to form in the upcoming campaign if he intends to be a part of Didier Deschamps’ squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals after the competition was postponed due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Are The France International’s Best Attributes?
Ndombele can use his quickness and agility to make some driving runs with the ball from midfield. He is a tireless worker at the centre of the park and has the vision to pick out a decisive pass in the attacking third of the field. The Frenchman also packs a lot of power with his strikes from long range and can also put in a decent shift defensively when being deployed in a holding midfield role. He is a technically-gifted footballer but has struggled to make the most out of the goal-scoring opportunities that have fallen his way this season.
Retaining Ndombele’s Services For The Time Being: Wise Decision By Mourinho?
A midfielder of Ndombele’s attacking potential could flourish under an experienced manager like Mourinho in the long-run. Therefore, Spurs have made a wise choice by deciding to retain his services beyond this summer. He has the ceiling to perform at a high level in the coming seasons, especially if he can learn from his experiences from this campaign.
At 23, Ndombele is only going to get better with each year, but his recent injury record will be a cause for concern for anyone associated with the London giants. The French midfield enforcer could become a mainstay at the heart of Mourinho’s midfield as long as he can get the proper backing of his manager. The Tottenham head coach could also benefit from building a team around Ndombele’s strengths which might help the player settle into his playing style quickly in the future.
