Could Ndombele be Barcelona’s new Yaya Toure?

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Potential deal in the offing

At the time of writing, there is continued speculation surrounding a potential switch to Barcelona for Tottenham Hotspur record signing, Tanguy Ndombele.

After disappointing in north London, it appears that Jose Mourinho is prepared to offload the former Lyon man in double-quick time, and Spurs’ loss could well be Barca’s gain.

For a start, he provides something that only Arturo Vidal and Paulinho have really brought to the midfield in the last few seasons, and that’s an energy and competitiveness that is combative and physical.

For too long, Barca have lacked such a player at their best.

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Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita are similar examples of players that were quite happy to put their foot in where necessary, who were adept at breaking up play but who also enjoyed getting forward and supplementing the attack.

It would certainly add a different dynamic to the starting midfield that Barca have at present, but that’s not such a bad thing.

Particularly if he’s able to be secured for a bargain price or, better still, if the Blaugranes can throw one or two players into the deal.

Simply put, Barca can’t afford passengers any longer. A comment that’s recently been doing the rounds is that only Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are untouchable in the team.

That would suggest that anyone else is fair game for a transfer.

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Vidal and Ivan Rakitic seem certain to depart, and news this week that Juventus are in ‘advanced talks’ with Arthur Melo means that there’ll no longer be an overbooking in the middle of the park.

Ndombele has been described in certain quarters as the ‘complete’ footballer. That his passing range and deftness of touch at times is at odds with his marauding style. Comparisons to Michael Essien aren’t without foundation either.

I’ve seen in this forum a few complaints that Barca have become a team that passes for the sake of it. That it’s pleasing on the eye. The ‘Barca way’ if you prefer, and that in the last few years it’s not really got us anywhere.

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To that end then, a move for Ndombele would therefore make sense because he is direct and purposeful.

At just 23 years of age, this quiet, unassuming and religious man has virtually his entire career ahead of him. A career he takes incredibly seriously, unlike one or two Barca youngsters we could mention.

For what he would cost post Covid-19, his hire wouldn’t even be a gamble.

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