Aston Villa could well be set to offer Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele a Premier League lifeline…
What’s the word?
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke – who was speaking to Football Transfer Tavern – the Midlands club could well make a move for the 25-year-old before the end of the transfer window, having previously enquired about a deal for the seven-cap Frenchman in January.
Asked whether Villa could go back in for the former Lyon man in the coming weeks, the transfer insider stated: “Yeah he’s obviously on the list of Villa if they did enquire about him in January.
“He’s obviously a player that they think could come in and do a job for Aston Villa. We all know he doesn’t figure in Tottenham plans going forward. He’s one of the players on the fringes that Antonio Conte is willing to move on. So, if there’s a deal to be done there that would suit Aston Villa and Tottenham, there’s a real possibility that Ndombele could end up there.”
Despite having already brought in Boubacar Kamara this summer, the suggestion is that Villa manager Steven Gerrard is on the lookout for a new midfield addition.
Could be an “incredible” coup
Once described as an “incredible coup” for Spurs when they landed the 5 foot 11 menace three years ago, it would seemingly be a similar story if Villa are able to get a deal over the line before the September 1st deadline, with Ndombele a possible marquee arrival in the Midlands.
Although the £27m-rated midfielder has flattered to deceive during his time in north London thus far after failing to impress a string of managers, it is hard to question the obvious talent of the playmaker, despite his apparent lack of application in recent times.
Previously plucked by the Lilywhites for a hefty £63m, that was a marker of just how highly the £120k-per-week sensation was rated at the time, with it foolish to assume that he can have become a bad player overnight despite his recent struggles.
Even during that slump, the 25-year-old still caught the eye of former Spurs teammate Gareth Bale, with the Welshman suggesting that the playmaker was somewhat reminiscent of Brazilian icon Ronaldinho due to his “mind-blowing” quality with the ball at his feet.
That is high praise indeed considering the former Barcelona man’s legendary status in the game, although such a comparison is an indicator of the overwhelming natural talent that Ndombele does possess.
West Ham United captain Declan Rice has also recently lauded the maestro’s talents, suggesting that the Frenchman is one of the “toughest” opponents that he has faced, while also dubbing him a “street footballer” for his stunning trickery and calmness in possession.
That has also been demonstrated by Ndombele’s encouraging upturn in form following his loan return to France in the second half of last season, with the fleet-footed powerhouse notably providing two assists and averaging 2.3 tackles per game in his 11 Ligue 1 outings, showcasing both his creative flair and his ball-winning ability.
A player who can simply glide through the midfield with ease, he also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues with regards to his ball-playing talents, notably ranking in the top 1% for dribbles completed and the top 4% for progressive carries.
If Gerrard is able to harness that undoubted brilliance and help fashion a more consistent and reliable figure this season, then it could well prove a huge coup if Villa are to add Ndombele to their ranks this summer.
