Manchester United are reportedly determined to land French midfield sensation Tanguy Ndombele in the January transfer window.
Manchester United are set to enter the race for the signing of Olympique Lyon and France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele in the upcoming transfer window, as per reports in France (h/t The Sun).
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most coveted young midfielders across Europe over the past year or so. And Manchester United are hoping to get their hands on him in January, as manager Jose Mourinho looks to turn things around in what has been a disappointing 2018-19 season so far.
Ndombele, a product of the Guingamp youth setup, spent some time at SC Amiens, before he moved to Lyon in the summer of 2017. The midfielder soon went about establishing himself as a key member of Bruno Genesio’s side, finishing his debut campaign with a goal and eight assists from 50 matches across all competitions.
The 21-year-old has begun the ongoing season on a strong note as well, having already scored twice and set up four more from 21 appearances. His displays in Lyon’s UEFA Champions League group games against Manchester City were particularly standout.
Ndombele’s rapid rise to stardom hasn’t gone unnoticed, as several clubs attempted to sign him in the past summer itself, with Chelsea being one of the interested parties. However, he ended up staying at Lyon, with the club having no intentions of selling their midfield metronome.
But, interest in the 21-year-old has only continued to rise, with Tottenham Hotspur also entering the fray, while La Liga champions Barcelona are also believed to be monitoring the midfielder. And now, Manchester United too have thrown their hats in the ring for Ndombele’s signature.
It has been a poor season so far for the Red Devils, as they sit sixth in the Premier League table after 16 matches. While they have shown signs of recovery over the last week, Mourinho’s team, at times, has looked devoid of intensity and sharpness in the middle of the park.
Nemanja Matic has regressed after a stellar debut campaign last time out, summer signing Fred hasn’t been able to make the desired impact, whereas Paul Pogba has once again been extremely inconsistent, so much so that the club-record signing was omitted from the starting lineup for Manchester United’s last two Premier League encounters.
In order to address the issue, Jose is seeking another addition to the midfield department, with Ndombele emerging as a potential target. The 21-year-old is full of potential and has shown that he can cut it out at the biggest stage in his fledgling career. His qualities and all-round abilities would certainly add an alternate dimension to the United midfield.
Ndombele signed a new contract with Lyon in September earlier this year, extending his stay at the club till the summer of 2023. That puts Les Gones in a very strong position, with the report claiming that they are likely to demand as much as £90 million for his services.
Manchester United, however, are not dissuaded by the price tag and are set to press ahead with the pursuit of the French international. With so many clubs competing for his signing, it will be interesting what the future holds in store for Ndombele.
