5 possible long-term replacements for Sergio Busquets at Barcelona

#3 Tanguy Ndombele Alvaro (Olympique Lyonnais)

Ndombele is a player who looks like he can only get better

If he continues to develop at the current rate, Ndombele is going to rival Paul Pogba for a starting berth in the French national team.

He was one of the standout talents in Ligue 1 last season on loan at Lyon from Amiens. Such was his performance that Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas thought it expedient to quickly pay the €8m needed to make his transfer permanent.

He has shown the full range of his abilities at the base of the midfield as the holding midfielder in a side that is geared towards high-octane attacking football. Combative and tough tackling, he is also excellent at passing and starting attacks in the final third.

Despite the presence of fellow youngster Lucas Tousart in the team, Ndombele is usually tasked with helping the team control matches by winning the ball in deep positions and driving forward. His quality passing can be seen from the fact that he already has 4 assists from a deep-lying midfield a.k.a regista role this season

Like Busquets, he could help Barca in breaking up opposing attacks. He is not at the Spaniard’s level yet in terms of in-game management or having an eye for an opening. These are aspects of his game that should get better at as he continues to mature.