Spurs outcast to return to London after loan club decline option make move permanent

A week ago, Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of securing a place in the top four looked to have almost vanished after rivals Arsenal beat Leeds United to move four points clear. 

But, after a remarkable 3-0 victory over the Gunners in the north London derby on Thursday and a 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, the Lilywhites were relying on Newcastle United to get a result against Arsenal on Monday.

The Magpies delivered, as they beat Mikel Arteta’s side 2-0, and Spurs now need just a point against already-relegated Norwich City on the final day to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Europe’s top club competition could make a welcome return to Spurs’ calendar next season, with the London club having failed to qualify from their Europa Conference League group earlier this season.

One person who will also be making a return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season, it appears, is Tanguy Ndombele.

The midfielder is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon, but the French side will decline the option to make his move permanent, according to Football Insider.

Ndombele will return to Spurs this summer

Ndombele returned to his former side on loan in January, and the deal included an option-to-buy clause that was believed to be £50 million.

The outlet suggests that the Frenchman, who has played 14 appearances since returning to the club in January, will be left out in the cold when he returns to the capital this summer as he does not feature in Conte’s plans.

That means that the midfielder could potentially be left to train alone while his future is decided.

Ndombele, 25, was thrown straight into the Lyon starting line up when he returned to his homeland, but he was withdrawn at half-time of Lyon’s 3-0 Europa League defeat to West Ham in April and didn’t feature in any of the club’s following three matchday squads.

The midfielder has managed one goal and two assists so far during his second spell with the club, but it appears he has not done enough to persuade those in charge of the Ligue 1 side to splash out on him.