Jose Mourinho has given good indication that Tanguy Ndombele can turn his Tottenham career around by saying the record signing is "working better than ever".
The Frenchman, who cost Spurs £55million from Lyon last season, flopped in a torrid first year in English football, suffering injury and fitness issues, and has been linked with a move away this summer.
Ndombele fell foul of Mourinho, who publicly criticised him on two occasions, and gave him just 64 minutes of action in the final nine games of the season after the restart.
It was widely expected that the signing of Matt Doherty from Wolves signalled the end of Aurier's time in north London, and he has been linked with a move to Italy.
"When we bought Matt it was not to sell Serge," the boss said. "When we got Matt it was to strengthen the squad and to have more options.
"And not to be in a very difficult situation like last season where Serge was playing all the time.
"But of course the market is open and the players have the right to express themselves and to try to be happy and if one day Serge comes to us and a situation that he would prefer I think we would speak with him. Mr Levy would speak with him.
"But the reason why we got Doherty was to improve the squad and not to sell Serge. If you ask me directly do you want to sell? No I don't."
