Tottenham will have to give up too much to secure Barcelona’s Arthur Melo

Barcelona’s Arthur Melo possesses talent in abundance but Tottenham will have to pay too high a price to lure the midfielder to north London.   

Barcelona is reportedly interested in adding guile, strength and drive to their midfield in the form of Tanguy Ndombele. The central midfielder endured a rocky first season at Tottenham after joining from Lyon last summer. Struggling to find fitness, Ndombele’s confidence under Jose Mourinho was non-existent when he did play a part.

The Portuguese gaffer, who repeatedly publicly criticized Ndombele, must take some accountability for the Frenchman’s inconsistent, rather pallid play. Mourinho’s tough love technique backfired in this instance.

He cost a club record £63 million and is an asset for the long term. Throwing in the towel on him now would be an egregious error, one Barcelona is itching to cash in on.

A swap deal for Arthur Melo, who has been dubbed by some as heir to Xavi’s throne, sounds intriguing. And under any other circumstance obtaining Melo’s services would be a no-brainer.

Ndombele, though, needs more time to adjust to life in England. And Mourinho must adapt his tact, providing encouragement and positive reinforcement for the struggling Frenchman. We know Mourinho is capable of a nurturing approach, even though his tendency to instead offer the cold shoulder has taken precedence in recent years.

Melo is incredibly talented and is still only 23 years old. He has a massive upside and would make a fantastic addition to the middle of the park in north London.

Unfortunately his arrival would mean Ndombele’s exodus from north London, and it’s far too premature for that type of drastic, impulsive decision.