Latest rumour, if true, supports Ange’s stance on Tanguy Ndombele

L’Équipe has published content about Tanguy Ndombele, saying Tottenham has turned down a €20 million offer from an “unknown club.”

Let’s first address the overweight elephant in the room, the cryptic nature of the news. The article is hidden behind a paywall, asking readers to pay some of their hard-earned cash to read it.

My recommendation is not to bother.

First, it’s in French.

Second, the Google translation to English is barely legible. And third, L’Équipe doesn’t even mention the team the offer has come from.

If I could smell the article, it would reek of sardines. Fishy, extra fishy.

But let’s assume for a second that L’Équipe is on to something.

Ange Postecoglou wants to give Ndombele one more chance to resurrect his Tottenham career, which fell off a precipitous cliff before being sent on loan to Napoli. That much is definitely true. The gaffer said as much when he arrived in north London.

Postecoglou probably sees what most of us did, a player whose raw talent is off the charts; a player who can impact proceedings at the top level if his heart is in it; a player who can swivel on a dime, beating two or three players with as many touches.

But the ostracized midfielder faces a mammoth uphill battle if he is to work his way back into first-team proceedings, a privilege he forfeited by a frustrating lack of commitment and desire.

I hope for Postecoglou, Ndombele, and Tottenham’s sake, providing the Frenchman one more lifeline pays dividends. Few people expect Ndombele to redeem himself and live up to his elephantiasis swollen £200,000 weekly salary.

At this desperate stage, most people would be satisfied to see the Frenchman break a sweat, as rare a prospect as Wimbledon without at least one rain delay.

While a refreshing thought, we’ve seen nothing to suggest that outcome is possible.

However, Postecoglou is known for the relationships he builds with players. He’s a miracle worker, able to motivate the most apathetic, languid souls.

He’ll need every bit of his magical sorcery to inspire Ndombele, whose attitude during his first stint in north London alienated teammates and supporters alike.

If the rumour is true, Tottenham is turning down a lot of money for a player who has given the club almost nothing, representing a considerable financial risk.

Ndombele, I’m sure you didn’t forget, cost Tottenham about €64 million. If an “unknown club” truly offers €20, I say take the money and run.

At least that way, the club mitigates its losses.

Then again, in Postecoglou, we trust.

So if he thinks he can miraculously turn Ndombele’s Tottenham career around, who am I to immediately write off the delicate, potentially hazardous experiment?