It was Tanguy Ndombele who asked for an option-to-buy clause to be included in his Lyon contract while sealing a deadline-day departure from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, according to RMC.
Ndombele, upon his official unveiling at the Ligue 1 outfit, insists that his time as a Spurs player is not ‘over’ just yet.
That could change soon enough however.
Especially when you consider that it’s he – not Lyon and not Tottenham either – who wanted a purchase option to be included in his six-month loan deal.
You don’t need a PHD in Behavioural Sciences to realise that Ndombele has little interest in returning to a club where he has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and, most recently, Antonio Conte.
“He was quickly attached to the project and he made an effort on the contractual level,” explains Lyon director Vincent Ponsot.
“The purchase option, it was Tanguy who wanted it.”
Will Tanguy Ndombele ever play for Tottenham Hotspur again?
Lyon would have to pay £54 million to sign Ndombele permanently at the end of this season.
Given that Les Gones are not exactly in a brilliant financial position – the combination of COVID-19, the collapse of Ligue 1’s Mediapro TV deal and an absence from European football doesn’t make for a particularly appetising cocktail – Lyon are in no position to part with £54 million.
One would assume, however, that Spurs will be open to accepting a lower fee when the summer rolls around.
Chairman Daniel Levy doesn’t usually let players go for cut-price fees. But, with Ndomblele desperate to depart and Conte showing about as much faith in the Frenchman as his predecessors did, a parting of the ways appears to be for the best.
Paris Saint-Germain also showed an interest.
But Ndombele, who blossomed into one of Europe’s most mercurial midfielders at Lyon, obviously felt that a return to familiar surroundings was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Home comforts?
“(The deal) was improbable and impossible because of PSG,” says a clearly shocked Bruno Cheyrou, Lyon’s Head of Recruitment.
“But Tanguy showed that he wanted to join us. He spent enough time here to show his qualities. We needed a midfielder after the departure of Bruno Guimaraes (to Newcastle).
“He has matured and progressed in England. He is one of the best players in the French league. A bit like (Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco) Verratti.
“He has friends in the team, he knows the club and the stadium so his adaptation will be quick.”
Alongside Ndombele, Dele Alli (Everton), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal) and Bryan Gil (Valencia) also departed on deadline day.
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