Napoli are now closing in on a deal to sign Tanguy Ndombele, with the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder keen to join the Serie A side after Spurs accepted a loan-to-buy bid for a switch.
Napoli closing in on deal to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Tottenham Hotspur
According to the Evening Standard, Tanguy Ndombele is now keen to sign with Napoli after Tottenham Hotspur accepted the Serie A side’s offer. The Azzurri and Spurs have held talks over recent weeks, and are verging on a deal to loan the Frenchman with an option to buy.
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Antonio Conte has made it clear that Ndombele does not feature in his plans at Tottenham this season. So, managing director Fabio Paratici has strived to find a new home for the 25-year-old, who Spurs paid a club-record £54m to sign from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in July 2019.
Tottenham are prepared to loan Ndombele to Napoli for the 2022/23 season, having spent the latter half of last term back at Lyon. Conte sent the seven-cap international back to the Groupama Stadium as he made only seven appearances for 287 minutes under the Italian.
Just three of his appearances under Conte also came during Premier League games for 80 minutes. While Ndombele offered his sole assist under the Spurs boss during his only top-flight start at home to Liverpool, following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure last November.
Napoli will now obtain an option to buy worth around £25m in their deal to sign the 5 ft 11 ace, as well. One last hurdle in the Azzurri’s discussions with Tottenham was the two clubs waiting on Ndombele to decide if he liked a move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Tanguy Ndombele appreciates Serie A title chance and Champions League offering
But Ndombele has now given his blessing to sign for Napoli in a loan-to-buy transfer as the Azzurri will give the Tottenham outcast Champions League football. Luciano Spalletti’s side are also chasing the Serie A title this term, after finishing last season third in the standings.
Napoli also only missed out on the Scudetto to AC Milan by just seven points, with Inter in second five points ahead. Spalletti’s bid to now bridge the gap has additionally started well with a 5-2 rout at Hellas Verona to top the table after the first match of the new campaign.
So, Ndombele – who Kieran Trippier once deemed ‘frightening’ – has seemingly snubbed a myriad of rival approaches for the Azzurri. Foot Mercato recently reported that Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest had entered the race for his services, but are now set to miss out.
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