Rodrigo Bentancur update, and looming Tanguay Ndombele transfer

After a season-ending ACL injury during the 2022-23 campaign, Rodrigo Bentancur should be fit to return to action sometime in the next two months; meanwhile, Tottenham have yet to deal with Tanguy Ndombele’s future.

There can be no denying that Bentancur was crucial to any success Tottenham garnered under Antonio Conte.

The Uruguayan midfielder actively distributed the ball to wing outlets, combined in the centre of the park, and created space with his ball movement, also contributing a defensive presence.

He could ascend even loftier heights if appropriately incorporated into Ange’s plans.

Upon Bentancur’s return, Spurs fans should be excited about the possible combinations Ange could go with for the central three, with the likes of James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp, Pape Sarr, and Giovani Lo Celso available for selection, all of whom looked brilliant in the preseason.

Not to mention, Spurs have a further defensive midfield option in Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

Notably, however, the Dane’s days at the club could be numbered as interest from Atletico Madrid persists, with personal terms supposedly agreed upon.

Nevertheless, with tight competition for starting spots, Tanguy Ndombele, who has done little to impress Ange since his return from loan, will finally, either sooner or later, be ushered out the door permanently.

He’s been linked with moves to the Turkish league amid €10m bids from Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. However, Ndombele is reportedly  disinterested in the Süper Lig, not to mention both offers fall a few million shy of Spurs’ larger valuation, according to The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare:

More generally speaking, as Eccleshare’s report details, Spurs are having trouble offloading their unwanted players, and the level of concern continues to grow as only two weeks remain before the window shuts.

So far, Harry Winks’ move to Leicester is the only progress we’ve made in cashing in on the excess we’ve accrued, and the list of all the others who need to go is extensive.

Looking at the Ndombele situation, it’s unfortunate to see such a low prospective return on a player we invested heavily and believed in.

However, such is the story of a football club constantly under new management, trying to compete in Europe’s toughest professional division.