Real Madrid ‘set to raid Tottenham’ again as Carlo Ancelotti identifies top target

Carlo Ancelotti leaves Everton for Real Madrid

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Tottenham Hotspur face a test to keep hold of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele this summer, after it emerged that Real Madrid are keen on signing him. New Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti rates Ndombele highly, and believes he can get the Frenchman for a cut-price after a hit-and-miss start to his Spurs career, according to reports.

Ndombele joined Spurs from Lyon in the summer of 2019 for a fee believed to be in the region of £55million.

But the France international, who has been capped seven times by his national side, struggled for form and fitness in his first year in north London.

The 24-year-old missed out on the France squad for Euro 2020 despite an improved showing last season, making 33 Premier League appearances in central midfield.

And now Spurs could be set to lose Ndombele before even seeing the best of him, with Ancelotti targeting the players as a perfect fit for the Real Madrid midfield.

Real’s midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro have a combined age of 95, and Ancelotti is keen to add long-term options to the squad’s central midfield ranks.

Were Ndombele to leave, he may not be the only regular starter set to department Spurs this summer.

Star striker Harry Kane is also known to want a move away from Tottenham, with the Premier League top-scorer keen to compete for club silverware in the remainder of his career.

“I mean he [Daniel Levy] might want to sell me,” Kane said, when asked whether Spurs would be open to selling him this summer.

“It’s a moment in my career where I have to reflect and see where I’m at. Ultimately it’s going to be down to me, how I feel and what’s going to be the best for me and my career.”

Much of the uncertainty around the futures of Tottenham’s key players is a result of the club remaining without a permanent manager.

Spurs sacked Jose Mourinho in April, but have failed in a string of attempts to find a replacement, despite chairman Levy setting out a clear message of his intentions three months ago.

“We are acutely aware of the need to select someone whose values reflect those of our great club and return to playing football with the style for which we are known – free-flowing, attacking and entertaining – whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our academy alongside experienced talent,” Levy said.

“I have said it many times and I will say it again – everything we do is in the long-term interests of the club. I have always been and will continue to be ambitious for our club and its fans.

“As a club we have been so focused on delivering the stadium and dealing with the impact of the pandemic, that I feel we lost sight of some key priorities and what’s truly in our DNA.”

Spurs have just six weeks to find and bed in a manager before they open their Premier League campaign against Manchester City on August 15.

Tottenham follow up that tricky opener with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on matchday two, with Wolves’ former boss Nuno Espirito Santo the current favourite for the vacant head coach role in north London.
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