https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1145389/Mauricio-Pochettino-Tanguy-Ndombele-Tottenham-transfer-London-talks-Lyon
How Mauricio Pochettino convinced Tanguy Ndombele to make Tottenham move in London talks
TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino convinced Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele to ignore interest from clubs across Europe in a private face-to-face chat with the player in London.
By
CHARLIE MALAM
PUBLISHED: 07:07, Wed, Jun 26, 2019 | UPDATED: 07:55, Wed, Jun 26, 2019
That’s according to French newspaper
L’Equipe.
Sky Sports News reported last night that
Tottenham have agreed to pay a club-record fee of £65million for the 22-year-old.
They claim that the France international will sign a five-year deal with the north London club and undergo a medical by the end of the week.
But while L’Equipe claim negotiations are actually still ongoing with Lyon wanting €80m (£71.7m) with as much as €15m (£13.4m) in add-ons.
Yet the French outlet expect a deal to be reached soon with Ndombele having been convinced that he wants to join Spurs.
It is claimed that the all-action midfielder took a trip to the English capital after playing for France earlier this month to view Spurs’ facilities for himself.
There, Ndombele - who cost Lyon just £7million when he joined from Amiens a year ago after a successful year-long loan at the Groupama Stadium - met with
Mauricio Pochettino as the coach put forward his plans for the years to come.
Although Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are among the European giants said to be chasing Ndombele, L’Equipe say discussions with the Argentine coach helped convince him that a move to the new White Hart Lane was his best option.
It is said in the conversations that Pochettino sold Ndombele of his vision as to how Spurs will challenge for the Premier League title in 2019-20 after reaching the Champions League final last season, albeit losing to Liverpool.
Spurs are currently overseeing an overhaul with a number of previously key first-team players such as Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Kieran Tripper among those tipped to leave but they remain the best-placed team to challenge Emirates Marketing Project and Liverpool in the title race next term.
And Ndombele is thought to be crucial to Pochettino’s plans to taking on last season’s champions and runners up with the Spurs boss also keen on Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
Ndombele himself is understood to believe he can take his game up another level under Pochettino while he hopes to nail down a spot in France’s 23-man squad for Euro 2020, which regular football with the Lilywhites could help him to do.
Despite Sky Sports’ reports, L’Equipe claim that talks between the two clubs are yet to be completed and that Tottenham are also discussing personal terms with the player which are close to being concluded.
Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas will reportedly accept no less than a guaranteed €65m (£58.2m) with €15m in bonus payments for Ndombele.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy meanwhile is said to want the deal to be completed for between €70m (£62.7m) and €75m (£67.2m).
Ndombele’s arrival will smash Tottenham’s transfer record, which is currently the £42m they paid Ajax for centre-back Davinson Sanchez two years ago.
The club’s new acquisition would also become their first signing since January 2018 when Pochettino recruited Lucas Moura from PSG, having not many any additions in the past two windows.
Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon is another apparent target as Spurs continue to reinvent their squad, with Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek and Nicolo Zaniolo at Roma others linked with a move.