Lyon director Vincent Ponsot has revealed that it was Tanguy Ndombele who wanted a permanent option inserted in Lyon’s deal to sign him on loan from Tottenham.
The writing was on the wall for Ndombele heading into the January transfer window, with the midfielder struggled to get game time at Tottenham since Antonio Conte’s arrival.
The Frenchman eventually completed a return to Lyon on loan on transfer deadline day, with the Ligue 1 club confirming that they would be paying a loan fee of €1.4m (£1.1m) for the 25-year-old.
According to Sky Sports, Peter Bosz’s side are also thought to have included an option to buy Ndombele for €65m (£54m) in the summer.
Ponsot previously revealed to L’Equipe that the midfielder offered to make up the difference in wages between the two clubs in order to seal a return to the Groupama Stadium.
The Lyon director has now revealed that it was at Ndombele’s insistence that the option of a permanent transfer was added to the loan deal.
Ponsot told RMC Sport: “He (Ndombele) was quickly attached to the project and he made an effort on the contractual level. The purchase option, it was Tanguy who wanted it.”
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Realistically speaking, Lyon are not going to pay £54m to re-sign Ndombele permanently in the summer. The could only change is if the midfielder does so well over the next five months that the French club believe that they can immediately sell him on for a profit.
Spurs will be hoping that the 25-year-old does well enough at Lyon to attract plenty of suitors in the summer. However, I believe that Tottenham are unlikely to get bids of more than £30m-£35m for the midfielder.
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