One of the Independent’s pre-season predictions is now looking hugely daft, and it involves a Tottenham Hotspur star…
What’s been said?
Before the season started, the football writers at the national newspaper were tasked with putting together their thoughts on the 2019/20 campaign ranging from title winners to relegation candidates and even the best and worst signings.
Spurs finally spent money this summer, bringing in the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Jack Clarke and Tanguy Ndombele and the addition of the latter in a £55m splash from Lyon was enough to convince chief scribe Miguel Delaney into touting him as the best signing.
Here’s what they all said…
Unfulfilled potential (so far)
In hindsight, the Frenchman’s arrival should have been put in the ‘flop’ category alongside Joelinton and Moise Kean.
Ndombele just hasn’t been able to get up to the speed and demands that a Premier League season entails, averaging only 51 minutes from 27 appearances in all competitions this term, per Transfermarkt.
He’s only contributed two goals and four assists, too.
From non-League to the Premier League: Where did these top-flight stars begin their careers?
Whilst the 23-year-old has also regressed for key passes, shots and dribbles per game from his time in Ligue 1 to the English top-flight this season, via WhoScored.
It has been that poor that Jose Mourinho has publicly scorned him for being some way off the pace.
Signed by ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, Ndombele still has a long way to go to live up to the club-record price tag he arrived with, but given the fact that he has earned six France caps in his relatively young career to date, it’ll be on Mourinho to bring that potential back out of him.
But for the time being, this one can hang on the head of Daniel Levy after failing to sign anyone of note for many, many transfer windows, he’ll be remembered for sanctioning Ndombele’s disaster debut season in north London.
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Going by everything above, Delaney’s summer call is proving to be well wide of the mark – maybe better luck next year? (that’s both for the player and the prediction).
And in other news, Spurs interested in making a stunning swoop for this 40-goal sensation…