Tanguy Ndombele Could Be An Essential Midfield Partner For Paul Pogba

With the international transfer window officially open, speculation is rife over transfers this summer and the expectation of what can be done.

There is seldom a time where transfer gossip is not associated with Paul Pogba, and this summer will be no different. Already there have been reports of Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid vying for his signature and willing to go the distance for him.

Due to Zinedine Zidane being back at the helm for Los Blancos, it is no surprise to see fellow Frenchman as closely linked to them as he is. This is an ongoing saga that pre-dated his move to Manchester United from Juventus and will continue until eventually the France World Cup-winning midfielder is playing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Manchester United will remain strong in their efforts to keep him at Old Trafford next season. Paul Pogba has a contract until 2022, meaning the club are in no position to be bullied in selling him – just as Chelsea were with Eden Hazard due to the 12 months he had left on his contract.

Juventus are believed to be interested in re-signing Paul Pogba, but the Serie A champions would have to sell FIVE players to be able to afford the Manchester United midfielder.

More gossip ➡ https://t.co/nneJh7l2sp #bbcfootball #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/UHB4lXrV67

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 11, 2019

The Frenchman is one of his generation’s leading players and wants to be playing for a team that can win the biggest trophies on the planet – that much is obvious. And while the Red Devils are entered into the Europa League next season, this summer has to be a turning point for the club to begin to get back to where they belong: the top.

And so it is of paramount importance to bring in quality, humbled players that are willing to go the extra mile in helping the team reach those heights. Instead of focussing on players that are attracted by the money, Man United simply have to acquire the right type of mentality in order for this to work.

One of those players that would fill the Ander Herrera role now in the team would be Tanguy Ndombele – Pogba’s international teammate. As seen in their friendly match against Bolivia, Pogba and Ndombele played in a two-man midfield, working off one another in tandem in order to maximise their output.

While the level of opposition was nothing to write home about, it showed a clear understanding of how a partnership could form between them and the qualities for the current Olympique Lyon midfielder.

If Real Madrid fail to sign Pogba from Manchester United, Ndombele is the plan B. [@eselprimerpalo]

— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) June 10, 2019

What Pogba needs above all is a midfielder player – similar to Herrera – who is willing to sit and create space for him. Ndombele, suited as a defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box player, is a perfect replacement for the Spaniard and also has the physical characteristics that are highly sought out after in the Premier League.

His price tag is not cheap, with Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, holding out for a fee north of £60 million for a player they previously signed for under £10 million. At just 22-years-old, Ndombele has shown great maturity in the past 12 months for Lyon and has been deserving of his call-up to the national team; a country that boasts the best youth production line in the world right now.

There is plenty of interest in the midfielder from around Europe, including PSG, but if Manchester United are serious about not only keeping Paul Pogba, but also rising to the top of the football ladder once more, they have to make these strides in acquiring top level talent.