TO ANALYSE – Arrived in the Rhône this winter, the midfielder and the attacking midfielder should constitute serious reinforcements for OL.
Last Monday, a few hours before the closing of the winter transfer market, Olympique Lyonnais hit hard. After transferring Bruno Guimarães to Newcastle United Football Club for €50.1 million including bonuses, the Rhone team reacted by registering the arrivals of Tanguy Ndombélé and Romain Faivre. But concretely, what can they bring to Les Gones?
Read alsoNdombélé, Bakambu, Ben Arfa … these 5 recruits already (very) expected this weekend in Ligue 1
Tanguy Ndombélé, a short-term bet…
Let’s start by talking about Tanguy Ndombélé, without a doubt the most flashy and eagerly awaited winter recruit in Ligue 1. The French international is returning to the Rhône, two and a half years after being bought by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for a considerable sum, namely €60 million. Let it be said, his signature is not part of a long or medium term strategy. The former Amiénois has signed up with Olympique Lyonnais until the end of the season as part of a paying loan of €1.42 million accompanied by an (almost) unaffordable purchase option for the Rhone finances since it would amount to 65 M€ according to the indiscretions of Telefoot. With this investment, the leaders of Lyon are therefore betting on immediate profitability.
Read alsoMercato: courted by PSG, Ndombélé explains the reasons for his return to Lyon
…and a vertical weapon
At first sight, this recruitment seems clever. While at the Spurs, his career was faltering, the French midfielder returns to France thirsty for revenge, determined to drink in the opportunities that will be offered to him and to prove that his talent has not been lost. not flown. Above all, his intrinsic qualities – which seem to be able to marry the precepts of play defined by Peter Bosz – should undoubtedly strengthen Lyon’s creative and attacking arsenal. What weapon are we talking about? Verticality. Because over the years, Tanguy Ndombélé has become a master in the art of advancing the game forward.
Read alsoLigue 1: “no risk of filing for bankruptcy” this season for the DNCG but…
More concretely, the native of Longjumeau – more in sight offensively than defensively – likes to puncture the opposing defenses, whether through a nice slammed and/or hidden pass or through a powerful breakthrough with the ball at the foot. An original profile, very sought after and explosive in short, very different from that of Bruno Guimarães, whom he replaces digitally. He should be able to unblock many situations for Olympique Lyonnais, both in the face of low blocks and on defense-attack transitions. With the Frenchman, Olympique Lyonnais has clearly broadened its range of offensive solutions. Will his return to the Rhône be enough for the Rhone club to continue its rise in the classification in Ligue 1 and its fine run in the Europa League? Answer at the end of the season.
SEE AS WELL – The best of Tanguy Ndombélé at Tottenham
Romain Faivre, a long-term bet…
Romain Faivre is a bet on the future. To convince Stade Brestois and thus secure its services, the Gones – whose finances are not in good shape – did not hesitate to put their hands in their pockets: “The amount of the transfer is €15 million, to which a bonus of €2 million may be added as well as a 15% incentive on any future capital gain.“, specified the press release from Lyon at the start of the week. Very close to joining AC Milan last summer, the 23-year-old player signed up with his new formation until June 2026. Suffice to say that the Rhone leaders recruited him above all to prepare for the future of the club.
Read alsoTransfer market: cut off from Guimarães, OL react (very) strongly with Faivre and Ndombélé
…and a hard-hitting and decisive offensive
However, given his talent and the level he has displayed for a year and a half, his contribution could be felt from this second part of the season. Presumably, the ex-Monegasque should replace Xherdan Shaqiri, awaiting departure to Chicago (MLS) as revealed The Team this Friday. If he is used to playing in all positions behind the center forward, the French should therefore be quite aligned on the right side of the Lyon attack. Like the Swiss who arrived from Liverpool last summer, Romain Faivre is not a pure winger accustomed to walking along the sideline. A formidable ball handler, his qualities nevertheless allow him to express himself on the outlying parts of the lawn, especially on the right, when he has the opportunity to return to his left foot to face the game.
Read alsoMercato: the Lyonnais Shaqiri on the way to rallying Chicago and the MLS
The now former Brestois is a twirling and creative player who has a rare but oh so decisive ability: percussion. Whether on “open” ground or in small spaces on the attacks placed, the native of Asnières-sur-Seine knows how to make differences by dribbling. On paper, his possible association with the very active Malo Gusto – if ever he were to have playing time on the right side – appears complementary and attractive. By recruiting the left-hander, the Rhone club has also offered itself a decisive element and a remarkable shooter of set pieces, as its statistics attest: 6 goals (including 1 penalty and 1 direct free kick) and 5 assists the last season, already 7 achievements (including 5 penalties and a direct free kick) and 5 offerings on the clock since the start of the 2021-2022 financial year. With Romain Faivre, Olympique Lyonnais has undeniably achieved a great deal. Will he be able to confirm it on Saturday evening (9 p.m.), during the shock against AS Monaco?
