Would a swap deal between Ndombele and Martial work for both clubs?
Stefan Bienkowski
- 24 Sept 2021 10:03 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are often two of the most active clubs in any given transfer window, so it only stands to reason that both clubs may be looking to conduct some business among one another in this coming January window.
According to the Express, both clubs are mulling over a potential swap deal which would see Anthony Martial move to Tottenham and Tanguy Ndombele move the opposite way.
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Not only would the transfer allow two disgruntled players to try something new, but it would also likely avoid any huge fees for either club to pay. But would such a swap deal make sense on the pitch?
Would Martial work at Tottenham?
While Martial hasn’t had the best of times at Old Trafford in recent seasons, a move to Tottenham would undoubtedly be a smart move by the London club.
Although he may now be surplus to requirement at Man Utd, Martial is still a solid Premier League striker and potentially the perfect player to either partner or one day replace Harry Kane in the No.9 position.
Until that day comes, the French forward can comfortably play on either wing or in front of Kane as a utility player. In other words, Spurs could get a lot of use out of Martial if he made the move to London.
Would Ndombele work at Man Utd?
Where this deal may fall flat on its face comes from the fact that while Ndombele - a central midfielder - may be an enticing signing for Man Utd on paper, in reality he’s unlikely to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side a huge amount.
For example, while the French midfielder may be best played as a box-to-box talent or a deep-lying playmaker, Man Utd already have players like that in Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.
And, with all due respect to the 24-year-old talent, he has yet to prove any degree of consistency that would suggest he’s ready to step into Man Utd’s side and start elbowing his way to the front of the queue.
In truth, Ndombele would likely be another average squad player that Solskjaer would probably look to move on a few years after he brought him to the club.
