United Ready To Gazump City To Land €70m Ligue 1 Star N’Dombele

Jose Mourinho’s quest to reinforce his midfield options —  as well as every other position on the pitch — goes on, and now he wants to beat Pep to the punch again.

And since the whole Alexis Sanchez thing worked out so well, this time it’s one particular Ligue 1 star who’s caught the attention of the two Manchester clubs, with the January transfer window just around the corner.

But it appears if anyone is going to prise the player away from France, they are going to have to spend, and spend big.

Mourinho likes to get one over on Pep when the opportunity arises. Pic: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

City have already submitted a €50m bid for Lyon 21-year-old Tanguy N’Dombele — but that was flatly rejected over the summer.

And, according to France Football, United are ready to jump in, and are readying a bid somewhere in the region of €75m for the midfielde star.

Tanguy Ndombele Alvaro of Olympique Lyon in action. Pic: Angelo Blankespoor/Soccrates/Getty Images

Asked at the weekend what his plans are for the future, and whether he sees himself in the red or blue side of Manchester, he told Canal Football Club: ‘I could have gone [in the summer], maybe things would have worked out well.

Pep probably doesn’t care that much what Mourinho does

‘The club was firm, they didn’t want me to leave. I didn’t feel like leaving, and I think that today you can see that it was the best decision for me.

‘Things are going well, I am playing a lot of games, and I am in the French national team. So, I think for the moment it was the best decision.

Tanguy Ndombele of Lyon would be a fine addition to any midfield. Pic: Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport via Getty Images

‘I don’t imagine how my career will go, I live it instead. When I was young I didn’t dream of being in this or that club, whether it is Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, I have never dreamed of being in a specific club like that.

‘Of course they are big clubs, I don’t close the door to anyone.’