Barcelona must be wary of Tanguy Ndombele’s recent shortcomings

Barcelona obviously gives plenty of thought into their signings. However, some of the players they have been linked with this summer are, well, questionable.

Your guess is as good as mine on what the summer transfer window will look like. There is a wide degree of uncertainty around this issue and it can only be solved by the footballing bodies. For the recruitment team at Barcelona, though, it’s business as usual. Well, as usual as the business can be during these unprecedented times.

Many names have been flying around on Barcelona’s side of the internet. The most prominent, of course, is their former player Neymar who they are thought to be prioritising in this summer transfer window. And rightly so.

However, a recent link with Barcelona has surprised me. And not for the first time in the last few weeks either. According to the Daily Star, Barcelona has now emerged as the favourites to sign Tanguy Nbombele of Spurs.

More from FC Barcelona

• Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
• Barcelona put five past Real Betis
• Xavi backs struggling Robert Lewandowski
• Gavi youngest Barcelona player to reach 100 games
• Barcelona struggle but pull out win against Osasuna

The French-born midfielder signed for Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of this season and his introduction has been, well, stagnated. And it’s not just because of the virus either.

There was a time period where Ndombele was Tottenham’s most important player or at least one of them. He graced around the midfield with the ball at his feet with plenty of decorum. However, this soon changed.

The injuries began to roll in and his progress was stagnated. When he was given the all-clear to play again, though, Ndombele was no better and Spurs fans would be the first to tell you he was better off on the bench. This was signified in a match where Jose Mourinho substituted him off the pitch in just 45 minutes and was very open with his criticism of the midfielder.

Now, we know to take this with a pinch of salt. Mourinho has picked a vendetta against a certain group of players at every single club he’s managed. When he was head coach in La Liga, it was no different. However, he did have a point with Ndombele’s performances before the Coronavirus break. He just looked lazy and stagnant.

So am I saying that Barcelona shouldn’t sign him just because he’s been in bad form? No, of course I’m not. Ndombele is 23 years old so to say he should be the finished product by now would be silly of me.

However, I am saying that Barca shouldn’t expect great things straight away. Or, even if they do get great things straight away, they should expect this to tail off as it often does. What’s important is that Quique Setien sticks by his side, which I’m sure he will do so more than Mourinho has.

Do you think Barcelona should sign Tanguy Ndombele?