French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, considered a failed signing by Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, wants to return to Spurs, according to French media outlet FootMercato.
Ndombele was signed by Tottenham in 2019 for £65 million, the club’s highest transfer fee in history.
With a weekly wage of £200,000, he is one of the highest paid players in the team alongside Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
However, after joining Tottenham, he struggled for form at Olympique Lyonnais, and to make matters worse, he clashed with former manager Mourinho on and off the field.
Ndombele, who was also out of favor under Antonio Conte, left Tottenham for Napoli on loan ahead of the season.
Tottenham sent Ndombele to Napoli on a release clause with a weekly wage split. The agreed transfer fee is said to be £26 million. The plan was for Napoli to trigger the release clause if Ndombele performed as well as he did at Olympique Lyonnais. If Ndombele completes the move, it will be a successful loan deal for both Tottenham and Napoli, as well as for Ndombele, who failed at Tottenham. 메이저사이트
Napoli lifted the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years this season, and Ndombele helped them win the title as a late substitute. Ndombele was also presented with a winner’s medal in the final against Sampdoria on Friday.
However, Napoli have decided not to activate Ndombele’s release clause. The chances of extending his contract are also reportedly slim.
With Napoli’s decision to give up on Ndombele, he will have to return to Spurs when his loan deal with Napoli ends on May 30. His contract with Spurs runs until 2025.
One of the things Ndombele is counting on in his decision to return to Spurs is a new manager. The absence of Mourinho and Conte, the two coaches who dropped him, gives Ndombele hope that he can turn things around under a new manager. After sacking Conte, Tottenham are on the hunt for a new manager, with Celtic boss Enze Postecoglou currently the favorite. Ndombele’s hopes are also boosted by Spurs’ need for an attacking midfielder. Postecoglou favors a 4-3-3 formation and is confident that Ndombele can play as a defensive midfielder as well as an attacking midfielder.
During his time at Olympique Lyonnais, Ndombele was regarded as a flexible, ball-winning midfielder. The British Express reported on Friday that Ndombele could make a difference under Postecoglou. “Ndombele’s talent and physicality in the middle of the pitch could provide Tottenham with a vital new element next season,” it said.