Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is set to fly into London for talks with Tottenham Hotspur over Tanguy Ndombele’s future. But a permanent transfer remains in the balance.
That is according to Calciomercato, which reports Giuntoli intends to open talks with Spurs to debate their option to buy. The Azzurri and Tottenham agreed to a purchase clause with the Serie A side’s move to hire Ndombele on loan. But Napoli now question the price for it.
Ndombele has left Stadio Diego Armando Maradona chiefs somewhat underwhelmed with his efforts this season. Now, they seriously question paying the €30m (£27m) it would take for his permanent transfer. So, Giuntoli aims to drive down Spurs’ price tag in a large way.
Napoli only consider Ndombele’s permanent transfer to be viable if Tottenham agree on a heavily reduced sum. Giuntoli aims to convince Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici to settle on a ‘substantial discount’ to see the 26-year-old move on.
Luciano Spalletti will also have a fundamental say in Napoli’s decision to buy Ndombele or not this summer. The Azzurri boss has the final say on the Serie A side’s transfer plans and has delayed determining the midfielder’s future in Naples until the end of his loan transfer.
Napoli aim to get Tottenham to accept a massive loss for Ndombele’s transfer
Napoli would already see Tottenham accept a massive loan on Ndombele’s transfer via the option in his loan move. Levy backed Mauricio Pochettino to sign the midfielder from Lyon in July 2019. Spurs paid the Ligue 1 side an initial £54m, rising up to £63m after all add-ons.
Yet Levy sacked Pochettino just four months after they signed Ndombele. He was capable of some strong displays under the Argentine’s successor, Jose Mourinho, who once called the Frenchman ‘magnificent’. But he was never able to deliver a consistently strong input.
His indifferent performances under Antonio Conte also brought about his loan transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last January. Napoli then came calling in mid-August. But Giuntoli is in no rush to now pay Tottenham €30m (£27m) for Ndombele’s permanent transfer this year.
The seven-cap France international has amassed 30 appearances under Spalletti across all competitions so far this term. Yet he has only scored one goal and laid on one assist. He is also yet to start more than 10 games. Ndombele has only opened nine of his matches yet.
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