Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the increasingly crowded race to sign high profile Everton winger, with Arsenal and Manchester City also believed to be monitoring the Senegal international ahead of the transfer deadline.
Spurs have already enjoyed one of the busiest and most expensive transfer windows in Europe this summer. Roberto De Zerbi has been backed heavily by the Tottenham hierarchy as he continues to reshape his squad, with Manchester City duo Omar Marmoush and Savio among the latest attacking additions to arrive in north London.
The scale of Tottenham’s spending has been remarkable. The club have now invested well over £300million during the summer window, yet De Zerbi does not appear to believe his squad is completely finished. The Italian coach is still looking to strengthen in one particular area, with another wide attacking player seemingly high on his list of priorities.
For much of the summer, Cody Gakpo has been regarded as one of Tottenham’s leading targets. The Liverpool forward has been linked with a possible move to north London, particularly with Liverpool preparing for the arrival of Bradley Barcola, which could create greater competition for places in Arne Slot’s attack.
However, Tottenham may now have another option on their radar.
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Spurs are considering a move for Ndiaye as they assess their possibilities before the transfer window closes. The Everton attacker has reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign a new contract at Goodison Park, potentially opening the door for a major transfer.
The situation is particularly interesting because Ndiaye has already been the subject of significant interest from abroad this summer. A move to Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal appeared close to being completed, but the player ultimately made a late decision to remain in the Premier League.
That decision could now benefit Tottenham.
At 26, Ndiaye is believed to be keen to continue playing at the highest level in England, rather than moving to the Saudi Pro League. His versatility, pace and ability to operate in several attacking positions make him an attractive option for clubs looking to add another dimension to their forward line.
There is also a potential twist involving Richarlison.
Reports claim Tottenham could explore a deal that would see the Brazilian move in the opposite direction and return to Everton, four years after leaving the Merseyside club for Spurs. Richarlison has struggled to establish himself consistently in north London, and a move back to the club where he previously enjoyed considerable success could provide an intriguing solution for all parties.
Such a swap deal would, however, be complicated, particularly given Ndiaye’s reported valuation and the financial demands involved.
De Zerbi has already hinted that Tottenham could make one final significant addition before the window closes. Speaking about the club’s transfer plans on Friday, the Spurs head coach admitted that even he had been surprised by the scale of the club’s activity this summer.
“I didn’t expect a transfer window like we have done,” De Zerbi said.
“I think we can do one player more in one specific position.
“Yesterday we went to dinner with the owners, Johan [Lange, sporting director] and Vinai [Venkatesham, chief executive] and we spoke about this. All of us are on the same page and a very good connection.”
Those comments have naturally fuelled speculation about who Tottenham could target next, and Ndiaye now appears to be one of the names under consideration.
Tottenham are not alone in their interest, though. Manchester City have also been linked with the Senegalese winger, although their interest is particularly intriguing following the departures of Savio and Marmoush. City’s attacking options have changed considerably this summer, and Ndiaye’s ability to play across the frontline could make him an appealing replacement option.
Arsenal are also understood to be keeping tabs on the situation. The Gunners are believed to have attacking reinforcements on their agenda, although reports suggest Julian Alvarez remains their preferred target if they decide to make another major addition before the deadline.
That leaves Ndiaye facing an important decision about his future.
Everton, meanwhile, are under no obvious pressure to sell one of their most valuable players. The Toffees are believed to want around £80million to consider letting Ndiaye leave this late in the transfer window, a figure that would represent a substantial investment even for Tottenham after their huge summer spending spree.
Everton manager David Moyes has also played down suggestions that the club are actively looking to sell the player.
“We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players, that’s for sure,” Moyes said on Friday.
“As far as I know, we’ve got nothing to be concerned about, we’ve had no contact from any club. Somebody told me we had contact with Al-Hilal during the summer, we had nothing from them.
“There’s a lot of stuff that floats around which is not always true. Maybe this is true but certainly the stuff previous wasn’t.”
Moyes’ comments suggest Everton are not preparing to simply allow Ndiaye to leave without a fight. The club appear determined to retain their key players, particularly at this late stage of the window when finding suitable replacements would be extremely difficult.
For Tottenham, the question is whether Ndiaye is worth another huge financial commitment after an already extraordinary summer.
De Zerbi has clearly been given the backing to rebuild his attacking options, and the additions of Marmoush and Savio demonstrate the ambition within the club. Adding Ndiaye as well would give Tottenham yet another dynamic forward capable of operating from wide areas while also contributing centrally.
With the transfer deadline rapidly approaching, Spurs now have a decision to make. Gakpo remains an option, Ndiaye has emerged as another possibility, and other targets could still appear in the final days.
One thing is becoming increasingly clear: despite spending more than £300million already, Tottenham’s summer transfer business may not be finished just yet.
