A number of Tottenham fans will be keeping a close eye on Ligue 1 between now and the end of the season following Tanguy Ndombele's loan move to Lyon.
Always expected to depart in January due to a lack of playing time under Antonio Conte and the fact he was training away from the first team in recent weeks, the Frenchman finally got his move on transfer deadline day.
Rather than reuniting with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain, the 25-year-old instead returned to his former club on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Lyon will pay Tottenham £1.18million to take the French international on loan and they also have the option to make his move permanent come the summer for £54m.
Perhaps a move not many expected given talk of joining up with Lionel Messi and Co in the French capital, the key man in the deal coming to fruition was in fact Ndombele.
Speaking at his unveiling at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, director of football Vincent Ponsot and technical advisor Bruno Cheyrou all opened up about the player's pivotal role in a move many didn't believe was achievable.
"It would have been almost impossible to get him to come. Tanguy made the difference. He showed a real desire to join us. This is important to us," admitted Cheyrou, as reported by Lyon's official website.
"We already know his qualities. We needed a player like that after the departure of Bruno Guimaraes.
"He has continued to progress, to mature. He will bring us a lot through his passing quality, his ability with the ball at his feet. He is one of the best players with the ball under pressure."
Aulas added: “We already have a positive history with Tanguy. When his name came up, it was thought to be an unattainable option. But we knew it would make a great story."
When asked about Ndombele's return to Lyon, Ponsot discussed the deal and how important both Aulas and Ndombele were to pulling it off.
“It was not a hard deal to make because there were converging interests," he said. "Tanguy is the sort of player who is not always economically accessible to us.
"I thank the president because he gave us the means to do it but it was also the player who was decisive."
While it remains to be seen if Lyon will activate their purchase clause come the summer, Ponsot did actually confirm that it was Ndombele himself who wanted it included in the deal.
"Tanguy gave real sporting arguments on his choice. He was quickly attached to the project and he made an effort on the contractual level," he explained.
"Tanguy has a salary worthy of the Premier League and he made an effort after those of the club to sign him. There were facts in front of the words.
"The purchase option, it was Tanguy who wanted it and the amount was negotiated at the height of our valuation of the player."
