A perfect Dembele replacement? Tottenham must sign this £55m midfield dynamite in January

Why Tanguy Ndombele could be a perfect replacement for Mousa Dembele

According to reports in the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have made Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele a primary January target. They didn’t make a summer signing, which was a record in the Premier League. However, the north London club are ready to open the chequebook when the winter window arrives.

The Frenchman was a target for Mauricio Pochettino’s men in the summer, but Spurs had a £40m bid rejected by the French club. The 21-year-old’s price tag could rise to around £55m after he signed a new contract which keeps him at Lyon until 2023.

Tottenham have been joined by Premier League champions Manchester City in the race to sign Ndombele. However, here’s why the London club could benefit from having the box-to-box midfielder in the future:

Ndombele – A Dembele replacement

As per the Sun, Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele is set to leave the club after the contract expiry at the end of this season. The Belgian is also a box-to-box midfielder who can play as a midfield pivot or as a sole defensive shield in front of the back-line. His versatility and use of the ball in tight situations is something fascinating and important to the team.

The attributes of Ndombele are pretty similar to Dembele’s. The Frenchman too is a flexible player in the midfield, who can be deployed as a number eight or as a number six. His passing, use of the ball and strength stands out from the rest. It is fairly alike to what the Belgian offers to a midfield.

Hence, if the Lilywhites lose Dembele in the near future, they would be absolutely right in targeting Ndombele as a replacement. The fact that the former is a decade younger, manager Pochettino would have a chance to work with him for a longer period of time.

Read More: Food for thought – Tottenham must make an audacious swoop to sign this £100m-rated superstar in January

Verdict

Tottenham are struggling for squad depth, with an injury or two hitting the overall quality of the team. Therefore, they cannot afford to lose Dembele and not think of adding a replacement.

Ndombele can be a perfect foil for the team with his dynamism in the midfield and the propensity to cover both boxes in a game. The Frenchman can be the consummate midfield bulldozer which the Belgian used to be.