Barça are working on Ndombèlé as a backup option for the midfield

Barça are working on Ndombèlé as a backup option for the midfield

 El francés del Olympique de Lyon se coloca en la órbita de centrocampistas anhelados por el FC Barcelona junto a Rabiot y De Jong / | Laia Cervelló

The Olympique de Lyon midfielder is an option if moves for Adrien Rabiot and Frenkie De Jong prove difficult

FC Barcelona are working on another deal to improve their midfield and that person is Tanguy Ndombèlé. The Lyon youngster is an option should moves for primary targets prove difficult or impossible to close.

French international Ndombèlé has recently been called up by Didier Deschamps. He played in the friendly against Norway as well as in France's clash with Germany in the UEFA Nations League.

He was recently a late substitute in France's 2-1 defeat to Holland. At just 21 years old, he's already at the top of international football.

rapid evolution

Ndombélé spent three years at SC Amiens where he helped them secure promotion to Ligue 1. Lyon then decided to make an offer for his services in 2017/18. They paid €2m to loan the player for the season with an option to make the move permanent for €8m.

He's been involved in 13 Ligue 1 matches, 4 in the Champions League and he's scored 2 goals and created 4 assists.

Getting forward and scoring goals isn't part of Ndombélé's strengths but he is capable of providing assists and helping in the opposition's half. He works perfectly in a double pivot so is capable of covering both roles.

movement and touch

After working on his fitness (he's 1.81m tall and weighs 76 kgs) with a personal trainer and a nutritionist, the young French player has begun to show his enormous talent. He's able to create as well as finding space to give his teammates passing options. He's got a great touch and has fine vision too.

Due to his age, there's still a lot more potential and progression to come from. Tactically too he can improve and he's been questioned when caught further up the pitch. However his speed and movement are aspects which make him stand out from the crowd.

instead of Rabiot and De Jong

Barça have been keeping tabs on Ndombèlé after finding it tough to finalise the transfer of Adrien Rabiot. It also isn't going to be easy to secure a move for Frenkie De Jong either. Real Madrid have joined the race for the Dutch midfielder as well as Manchester City, two sides with a rich history of spending more on transfers than most.

Eric Abidal, the current director of football at Barça, has been working on a potential deal for Ndombélé. He's spoken with people from Lyon as well as those closest to the player.

Abidal knows all about the connection between Lyon and Barça but everyone is aware that their chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas, drives a hard deal and the fee could rise up to €60m. Ndombélé has a contract which runs until 2023 and Man City are also interested in the player.