Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli have reportedly agreed on a loan deal with a purchase option for 25-year-old midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Serie A giants Napoli have agreed a loan deal with a purchase option for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. The French international is not thought to feature in Antonio Conte’s plans for the new season and is looking for a team that would offer him regular game time as he looks to resurrect his flailing career.
Ndombele had been on the fringes of the first team since returning from an unsuccessful loan spell at his former club, Lyon, where he spent the second half of last season. He was banished from the pre-season campaign and training sessions as Tottenham looked to find a solution for him. But now it seems the 25-year-old can finally end his nightmare, as he edges closer to a move to Serie A.
The Frenchman joined Tottenham in the summer of 2019 for a club-record £65 million fee from Lyon, where he had established himself as one of the leading midfielders in Ligue 1. However, the move to English shores has not gone as planned for Ndombele, who has struggled to cope with the rigours of the Premier League.
While he has shown flashes of brilliance every now and then, he has failed to establish himself in the first team under three different managers, with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte all unable to bring the best out of him. Despite having a contract at Tottenham until 2025, Ndombele’s future lies elsewhere and is expected to leave before the transfer window slams shut.
Napoli and Tottenham have reached an agreement for Tanguy Ndombele on loan with buy option. The clubs are prepared to close the deal. ?? #Napoli
Napoli director Giuntoli met with Ndombele agents in Paris to discuss personal terms. #THFC pic.twitter.com/fzSbcmyGu0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2022
The French midfielder has garnered plenty of interest in the market, with the likes of Galatasaray, AC Milan, and Villarreal keen on signing him, In addition, Premier League clubs like Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest have also been linked with his signature. But as things have turned out, Napoli have won the race to sign him and have agreed on terms with Tottenham soon after holding positive talks and are looking to close the deal in the coming hours.
Napoli were said to be interested in signing Ndombele as a replacement for Fabian Ruiz, and it now appears as if they have found a breakthrough in negotiations, with the Frenchman set to arrive on an initial loan deal. The Serie A outfit will also have an option to buy him, and they could exercise the clause if the Tottenham midfielder performs well at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The Partenopei are now working to agree personal terms with the midfielder and director Cristiano Giuntoli has made contact with Ndombele’s representatives. Napoli hasveexperienced a big squad turnover in this off season already. Kalidou Koulibaly, Arkadiusz Milik, Lorenzo Insigne, and Fabian Ruiz have either left the club or are expected to depart soon.
However, the Serie A outfit have acted smartly to recruit young, and hungry talent, with Andre Zambo Anguissa, Mathias Olivera, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Kim Min-jae all arriving through the door. Throw an inspired Tanguy Ndombele into the mix, and Napoli could surprise many with their exploits this season.
