After failing to sign a player for 18 months, Tottenham have completed their second summer signing – Tanguy Ndombele – after Jack Clarke’s arrival. The 22-year-old has completed a six-year deal from Olympique Lyonnais after Spurs paid a club-record £65m for his signature. Ndombele’s arrival is a big statement from Mauricio Pochettino and will greatly improve the Tottenham squad.
The French international joined Lyon from SC Amiens in 2018 and has gone on to make 96 appearances in all competitions. He featured 34 times in Ligue 1 last season, contributing eight goals, creating 47 chances, making 64 successful dribbles (73%), averaging 58 passes-per-game with 89% accuracy and averaging a tackle (66) or interception (30) every 28 minutes.
Tottenham made Ndombele their priority this summer after Pochettino failed to replace Mousa Dembele in January. The Spurs boss was forced to use Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in a deep-lying midfield role due to Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama’s injury woes, but Ndombele arrival should solve the problem.
Pochettino will go into next season with great midfield depth – Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks, Dier and Alli – so there’s no reason why Tottenham can’t get off to a strong start in 2019/20.