Tanguy Ndombele is coming to the end of his Tottenham Hotspur career, but any exit in the January transfer window is unlikely to be worth ‘anything close’ to his club-record arrival.
That’s according to the Evening Standard, who report Spurs accept they will likely have to take a hit to part. They may even consider sending the Frenchman out on loan if the right offers do not arrive, or include him in a swap deal to sign one of Antonio Conte’s targets.
Tottenham will listen to offers after some supporters booed Ndombele off during their FA Cup win over Morecambe on Sunday. Yet club chiefs remain aware that his £200k-a-week contract – running to 2025 – may limit his number of suitors this month.
Ndombele also acknowledges that he may need to leave Tottenham in a January transfer after another disappointing affair. But the £54m arrival from Lyon in 2019 – who can cost up to £63m – remains determined to win Conte over.
Morecambe represented only Ndombele’s seventh appearance so far since Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm in November. He has also only started three of the Italian’s 13 games across all competitions – including one Premier League fixture.
Tottenham could cover Ndombele wage to seal January transfer exit
Tottenham will struggle to recoup much of the fee paid for Ndombele’s transfer to sell the 25-year-old this month. Spurs accept they face a fight in that regard, with the coronavirus pandemic still affecting some clubs’ finances.
So, the north Londoners are also open to discussing a loan move for at least the rest of the season. Tottenham may even pay part of Ndombele’s wage to secure a temporary transfer this month, or in a swap deal.
Reports by 90min have claimed Tottenham offered Ndombele to Inter Milan and Roma. Yet neither Serie A side is likely to take Spurs up on the chance to sign the seven-cap dynamo.
Ndombele moving to Rome in the January transfer window would see him reunite with his former Tottenham manager, Jose Mourinho. He played 58 games over two seasons under the Portuguese, who lauded the midfielder after scoring at Sheffield United last year.
“The goal is amazing, but I don’t care about the goal,” Mourinho said, via the Daily Mail. “I care about the performance and the performance was magnificent and I’m really pleased that he’s come to this level. He’s playing very, very well.”
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