It remains to be seen where Tanguy Ndombele will be playing his football from September onwards as he waits to seal a Tottenham exit. Not part of Antonio Conte's plans and allowed to head out on loan to former club Lyon in January, the writing is very much on the wall for the Frenchman in north London three years after his big-money move to the club.
One of four players omitted from Spurs' pre-season tour of South Korea, the midfielder, along with Giovani Lo Celso, Harry Winks and Sergio Reguilon, was also left out of the friendlies against Rangers and Roma. Admitting that he cannot guarantee the aforementioned quartet will play for him if they don't leave Spurs this month, Conte outlined the importance of "finding the right solution" for both player and club before the transfer deadline when speaking to the media ahead of the Southampton game.
Having all the attributes and qualities to be a huge success in the game, Spurs, in theory, should have clubs queuing up to sign Ndombele due to his undoubted talent but unfortunately that is not the case because of his struggles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Underwhelming during his short time back at Lyon, there are now three weeks until the transfer window closes for business and there are plenty of question marks over what comes next for the 25-year-old as he looks to get his career back on track.
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Linked with a loan switch to Villarreal as part of a double deal that would also see Lo Celso return to the Spanish side after wowing there on loan, reports from France have now suggested that a Premier League move could in fact be on the cards for Ndombele. According to French outlet Media Foot (via Sport Witness), Eddie Howe's Newcastle are in 'pole position' to sign the player as he looks to put himself in the best position for a chance of making France's World Cup squad.
Newcastle have been active in the transfer market so far this summer and they don't appear to be finished just yet amid links with James Maddison and Anthony Gordon. The Magpies are believed to be keen on adding another midfielder to their ranks after the January addition of Bruno Guimaraes, with Ndombele potentially handing them a very exciting three-man midfield if he moves to St James' Park and hits his stride.
Newcastle fans have after all seen what he can offer in the past following his impressive performance in the north east last October as he scored in Tottenham's 3-2 win. Howe has worked wonders with Joelinton in his short time on Tyneside and all Newcastle fans will be hoping he can do the same with Ndombele if he signs on the dotted line.
Tottenham ideally need a resolution to Ndombele's future sooner rather than later so that both parties can move on and go their separate ways after such a frustrating three years. The ex-Lyon man, who was linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs before Spurs won the race for his signature, needs a fresh start elsewhere in order to get his career back on track.
An exit for the midfielder, if it is to be permanent, would then help Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy out as any money coming in can be put towards transfer incomings, whether that is to be this summer or further down the line, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ndombele parting with the club would also help Spurs out in terms of their problematic non-homegrown numbers when it comes to the Premier League and Champions League. As thing stand, the Lilywhites are four over the limit of 17 in Europe's premier competition as Matt Doherty and Ben Davies are not classed as homegrown by UEFA.
While Ndombele, Lo Celso and Reguilon would be three of the four players left out given they are not in Conte's plans, Spurs ideally at some point soon need to be in a position where they are not over the limit and having to cut players as it has caused them problems in years gone by.
Showing glimpses of his talent in his three seasons at Tottenham, Ndombele needs a new challenge to try and recapture the form he showed at Lyon prior to his Premier League move. Time is now ticking for both parties with transfer deadline day edging ever closer.
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