Following yesterday’s news regarding the ostracising of Tanguy N’dombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks, there finally appears to be some promising movement on two of those fronts.
Indeed, Fabrizio Romano has announced that Napoli have opened talks with the club over a possible move for N’dombele – it is unclear whether this will be a loan move or a permanent one, but, given the Frenchman’s hefty wages, and the notion that anyone who recruits him will be recruiting an unpredictable maverick at best, it’d be wise to assume that it will be a loan deal. Add the fact that COVID-19 has hit Italian sides hard adds credence to the notion that this will be a loan move.
Talks continue between Tottenham and Napoli for Tanguy Ndombele. Discussions ongoing on salary and formula. 🚨⚪️ #Napoli
Negotiations started two days ago, as revealed ⤵️ #THFC https://t.co/Cu1ePlNn0I
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2022
Of course, we’ve been here before with Tanguy – a club realises there’s a talented player to be had, then they look closely at his attitude and/or wages, before they ultimately decide that their money is better spent elsewhere. And fair enough – retrospectively speaking, we should have taken a leaf out of those books!
The more promising news comes with Lo Celso, who is on his way to Spain to undergo a medical before reuniting with Unai Emery and Villarreal on a loan deal for the upcoming season, as per the ever-reliable Gianluca Di Marzio:
#LoCelso to fly today to Spain to undergo medicals and sign with @VillarrealCF from @SpursOfficial. 🛩 🇦🇷 #THFC #VillarrealCF @SkySports
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) August 12, 2022
Nothing concrete as of yet regarding ant potential suitors for messrs Reguilon and Winks, but getting Lo Celso and N’dombele out of the building, even if we are covering some of their wages, is a huge boost.
N’Dombele seems to be lacking in effort and he is grosssly over paid. To rid him from the club might require us to pay someone to take him off our hands. I fear he will turn out to be one of the worst acquisitions in the history of our club.
I would say he already has turned out to be our worst acquisition! lol
Fair enough, TQ, but some fool may yet overpay to buy his contract. Doubt it though, although one should never underestimate the gullibility of humans.
We’ve found a season loan for him at least with an option to buy, must be the best bit of business this window.
The trouble is if the best you can do is loan a player out while still paying some of his wages he is still draining money out of the club. There’s no way you can claim to have solved the problem, you’ve just limited the damage.
What makes the current situation worse is that while English clubs were hurt by COVID the damage in the rest of Europe has been worse. Most clubs on the continent just don’t have any money which makes trying to sell players abroad a nightmare.
Seems Paratici has found a deal with Napoli. We’ll take a massive hit on Tanguy but get him off the books. Probably best for both sides.