Tottenham Hotspur Join Race for Everton Star Ndiaye
Tottenham Hotspur have stepped into one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer tussles, joining the chase for Everton star Ndiaye and turning an already busy window into something even more combustible in North London.
De Zerbi’s overhaul at Spurs has already smashed through the £300 million mark, a statement spend designed to rip up and rebuild his attacking options. Omar Marmoush is in. Savio has arrived from Manchester City. Yet the Italian is still not satisfied.
He wants one more wide forward. A difference-maker. And now, according to Foot Mercato, the crosshairs have moved from Cody Gakpo to Everton’s Senegal international, one of the standout performers at Goodison Park.
A three-club fight for a rising star
Spurs’ move doesn’t come in isolation. It drops Ndiaye into the middle of a three-way battle involving Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom have been tracking the 26-year-old closely.
For City, he is viewed as a potential answer to recent departures in their attacking ranks. Arsenal’s interest keeps the pressure high. Tottenham’s arrival turns the situation into a full-scale Premier League arms race.
De Zerbi did little to cool the speculation when he spoke openly about his transfer plans on Friday.
"I didn’t expect a transfer window like we have done. I think we can do one player more in one specific position," he said. "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."
That admission underlines it: Spurs are not done. Not even after a record outlay.
From Saudi brink to Premier League scramble
Ndiaye’s summer has already swung wildly. At one point, he looked set for a big-money switch to the Saudi Pro League, with reports indicating a move to Al-Hilal was close to completion. Then came the twist.
The player pulled back, performing a late U-turn and choosing to stay in the Premier League. That single decision has reopened the door for England’s elite and triggered this surge of interest from Spurs, City and Arsenal.
Everton, though, hold the cards.
Everton dig in over £80m valuation
The Toffees are under no illusions about Ndiaye’s value to their team or the market. They have set a huge £80 million price tag on the forward, a figure designed to test the resolve of even the wealthiest clubs.
Ndiaye is tied to a contract on Merseyside until the summer of 2029. That long-term deal gives Everton the leverage they need, even though the player has recently turned down an offer of fresh terms.
David Moyes, speaking on Friday, was adamant that Everton are not preparing for a sale.
"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."
The message is clear: if anyone wants Ndiaye, they will have to pay — heavily.
How far will Spurs go?
So the stage is set. Tottenham want one more wide attacker to complete De Zerbi’s vision. Manchester City and Arsenal are lurking, ready to move if the numbers make sense. Everton sit firm behind an £80m wall, insisting there is no rush, no pressure, no need to cash in.
The window is ticking down. The money is already huge. The question now is simple: who blinks first?
