Tottenham Join Ndiaye Chase as £80m Battle Intensifies
Tottenham Hotspur have crashed into the race for Everton star Ndiaye, turning an already intriguing transfer saga into one of the window’s defining tug-of-wars.
Roberto De Zerbi has already overseen a staggering overhaul in North London. More than £300 million has gone out the door in fees as Spurs reshape their squad around his attacking ideals, with Omar Marmoush and Savio among the headline arrivals. Yet the Italian is not done.
He wants one more winger. A difference-maker. And for now, Ndiaye is the name at the top of the list.
From Gakpo to Goodison’s jewel
For much of the summer, Tottenham’s wide-forward search seemed to revolve around Cody Gakpo. Those links have cooled. The spotlight has swung instead to Goodison Park, where the 26-year-old Senegal international has emerged as one of Everton’s few untouchable talents.
Per Foot Mercato, Spurs’ interest now drops them into a three-way fight with Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom have tracked Ndiaye’s situation closely. This is not a quiet, opportunistic enquiry. It is elite clubs circling a player they believe can tilt big games.
De Zerbi didn’t name Ndiaye on Friday, but he didn’t exactly hide his intentions either.
“I didn’t expect a transfer window like we have done,” he admitted. “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.”
For a club that has already smashed through previous spending markers, that is a clear message: Tottenham are still open for business.
Saudi U-turn keeps Premier League giants interested
Ndiaye’s summer has already had one major twist. At one stage he looked bound for the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal reportedly close to landing him on a lucrative deal. The move was said to be nearly done before the player performed a dramatic U-turn.
He chose to stay in the Premier League. That single decision has changed the landscape.
Manchester City now view him as a possible answer to their own attacking reshuffle after departures from their forward line. Arsenal, constantly refining their options in the final third, have been watching as well. Tottenham, searching for another explosive wide threat, have joined the queue.
The pressure around the player has risen, but Everton have responded by digging in.
Everton stand firm
The Merseyside club know exactly what they have. Ndiaye is under contract until 2029, a long-term deal that gives Everton leverage at the negotiating table even after he recently rejected fresh terms.
They have placed an £80 million valuation on their prize asset. That number is not subtle. It is designed to scare away the opportunists and leave only the truly committed.
Everton manager David Moyes, speaking on Friday, was adamant that nothing is imminent.
“We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players, that’s for sure,” he said. “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.”
Publicly, at least, Everton are calm. No bids, no pressure, no panic.
Behind the scenes, the reality is more nuanced. A player who has knocked back a new contract, three of the Premier League’s powerhouses circling, and a price tag that dares someone to blink first – this is exactly how major transfers usually begin.
A test of ambition
For Spurs, this chase is about more than adding another wide forward. It is a statement about where they believe they belong. Beating Manchester City and Arsenal to a player of Ndiaye’s profile would send a message that De Zerbi’s Tottenham intend to live permanently in that rarefied air.
For Everton, it is a test of resolve and strategy. Hold their ground and they keep a star capable of dragging them up the table. Cash in at the right number and they bank a fee that could reshape their own rebuild.
The window is closing in. The valuation is set. The suitors are known.
Now it comes down to who is willing to pay the price for one of the Premier League’s most coveted wide men.
