Spurs manager Paratici works his magic to include €30m option to buy in Ndombele loan deal

Spurs outcast Tanguy Ndombele is reportedly set to join Serie A side Napoli on a season-long loan with an option to buy for €30million.

The Premier League club broke their transfer record to sign the French midfielder from Lyon for around £54million in 2019.

He signed a six-year contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but looks set to leave the club after three miserable seasons.

The 25-year-old has been excellent for Lyon and has featured frequently in the Champions League, including against Manchester City in 2018.

Ndombele scored on his competitive debut for Spurs and it looked like the north Londoners had made a very good signing.

However, his goal against Southampton on matchday seven was the last time he found the back of the net in his first season in the Premier League.

The Frenchman has struggled to stay fit throughout 2019/20 with Jose Mourinho at the helm.

20/21 has been a more productive season for Ndombele, who has played 46 times in all competitions, although his performances left a lot to be desired.

Productive is not a word to describe last season for the former Lyon midfielder.

He made nine league appearances before joining the French side on loan in January.

Lyon had an option to buy in the deal but decided not to exercise the clause after scoring once and providing two assists in 15 appearances in the second half of last term.

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has made Ndombele one of four – alongside Harry Winks, Sergio Reguilion and Giovani Lo Celso – being “banned” from the first team.

Lo Celso has joined Villarreal on loan for the season, while the Spanish side are battling with Napoli for the signing of Ndombele.

And multiple sources report that Napoli have won the race to sign the French playmaker.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano is one of many to confirm the news.

The Italian says Napoli will pay a €1m loan fee and cover the ‘main part’ of his salary.

Ndombele will replace Fabian Ruiz at Napoli, with the Spaniard set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain.

Surprisingly to some, however, Spurs director of football Fabio Paratici managed to include a €30m purchase option in the deal.

It remains to be seen if the Serie A side decide to buy Ndombele for this fee.

It could be a masterclass and an absolute boon if he becomes the player he once was and more.

Or he could be the player he has been for the past three years.

Either way, fair play to Paratici for working his magic by including such a high call option in the loan deal.