It is the opening day of the summer transfer window, but Tottenham have already got two deals secured. Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster both had expiring contracts at their former clubs, so have both signed two-year deals with Spurs, as free agents.
This is the start of a hopefully busy summer in N17, with Antonio Conte needing a number of new players, to strengthen his squad. There have been links to players across the globe, with the Lilywhites needing upgrades in various positions.
However getting multiple new players won't come without sending away some current squad members. The Italian had an issue with a lack of squad depth this season, yet some of those sat on the bench for much of the last campaign may find themselves closing their Tottenham chapter this summer.
READ MORE: Lucas Moura makes final Tottenham transfer decision amid Champions League admission
One of these players could be Tanguy Ndombele. The 25-year-old has had a rollercoaster journey at Spurs but overall, he hasn't made the required impact expected, being the club's record signing.
The Frenchman had made just under 100 appearances for the Lilywhites, before heading out on a short term loan in January. Ndombele returned to Lyon, where he made 11 Ligue 1 appearances, starting in just seven of his features.
The midfielder would've been hoping to return to his home country and prove his critics wrong, ahead of his return to north London, but that hasn't been the case. Ndombele was struggling to secure a consistent spot in Conte's starting XI at Tottenham and things haven't changed too much at Lyon.
Therefore it would seem less likely that the Frenchman will return to Hotspur Way and be someone the Italian will definitely want to keep. There have already been some reports linking the 25-year-old with a move elsewhere.
Some of these rumours have included a potential reunion with Jose Mourinho at Roma and the Portuguese head coach recently led his side to winning the Europa Conference League. The two had a mixed relationship, during their time at Spurs.
In February last year, the French international gave an insight into his relationship with the 59-year-old. "If you know Jose Mourinho then you understand how he behaves," Ndombele told football.london.
"I wouldn’t call it confrontation, but he’s just got a certain way of sending his messages and it actually all depends on how you receive those messages he sends." The Portuguese head coach and the midfielder didn't have the strongest relationship in their first season together but Ndombele did also highlight struggles he faced, with his new lifestyle, language and his teammates.
The relationship between the 25-year-old and Mourinho has now been repaired and the Frenchman was in fact linked with a move to Roma during the January window, before he returned to Lyon. Despite the up and down relationship, the 59-year-old has praised Ndombele on his ability, but has also commented on his underperforming nature.
"Tanguy, I have to be honest, Tanguy is the kind of guy who you always expect more than what he gives you, because he is so talented that you always expect more. More because the talent is amazing," Mourinho said last year.
"You know I think by the talent point of view, by the creation in midfield, by the vision, he is second to nobody at this moment in European football. But the feeling is always that he has something more to give.
"He never reaches the limits of the effort, the sacrifice, even the ambition. So he is the guy that I love him as a player but frustrates me a little bit because I think he can be much better, much better than what he is," he added.
Perhaps this is why the Roma boss wants to bring Ndombele to Italy, so Mourinho can try and get the best out of him. This lack of ambition and desire is something that has been commented on by others and is clearly a key issue in a player with so much talent.
The Frenchman's last game in a Spurs shirt came last season, where Ndombele was substituted off, when his side were 1-0 down. The 25-year-old proceeded to slowly walk off the pitch, which caused the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to fill with boos.
So not the best reception for the midfielder, in a match which could be his last in N17 and it would be hard to come back from that, if he did remain a Spurs player. Ndombele is now valued up to £25million, which is a significantly lower amount to what Tottenham paid for him, but that is something they may have to deal with if he is sold.
With the Frenchman's struggle to find a secure spot in Conte's side before his loan move and new arrivals expected, it may be best for the 25-year-old to close his Spurs chapter this summer and find somewhere he can get regular game time.
