Manchester City and Arsenal Battle for Ndiaye Amid £80m Valuation
Manchester City and Arsenal are locked in a high‑stakes battle for Everton forward Ndiaye, with the Premier League heavyweights circling a player they believe can sharpen their attacks, according to talkSPORT.
The Senegal international has surged into the conversation as one of the division’s most dangerous forwards, drawing detailed attention from the scouting teams at both the Etihad and the Emirates. Every performance now feels like an audition.
Everton dig in over £80m price
Everton, though, are standing firm. The club have slapped an £80 million valuation on Ndiaye, a figure that underlines his status in David Moyes’ system and his projected upside.
Crucially, he is tied to a long-term deal on Merseyside until the summer of 2029. That contract gives Everton enormous leverage and leaves City and Arsenal knowing they will have to pay a premium or walk away.
The tension has only increased after Ndiaye refused to commit his long-term future to Goodison Park. He is understood to have turned down a new contract earlier this summer, a clear sign he is open to a new challenge at the top end of European football. That stance has lit up the radar at City and Arsenal, clubs always ready to move when an ambitious, upward‑bound talent shows signs of restlessness.
A move that almost happened
This is not the first time Ndiaye has edged towards the exit. Earlier in the summer he came close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, in a move that would have placed him alongside the wave of European stars heading to the Middle East.
The transfer never materialised, but the fact Al Hilal pushed for him underlined how far his reputation now stretches beyond England. He is no longer just Everton’s gem; he is a global target.
Arsenal’s Plan B to Julian Alvarez
Arsenal’s pursuit adds a fascinating twist. Mikel Arteta has been searching for a top‑level forward to complete his attacking structure, and the club’s ideal signing remains Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
The problem? The Argentine is understood to favour a move to Barcelona, a preference that has complicated Arsenal’s plans and left the London club braced for disappointment in that chase.
That is where Ndiaye comes in. His versatility makes him a compelling alternative: comfortable across the front three or operating as a creative No. 10, he offers Arteta tactical flexibility and another high‑ceiling option if Alvarez proves unattainable.
City see a perfect stylistic fit
Manchester City, under Enzo Maresca’s guidance in the market, are approaching the situation with their usual precision. They have tracked Ndiaye closely since his return to England from Ligue 1 and see a forward who fits their blueprint.
Technically sharp. Relentless in his work off the ball. Intelligent in tight spaces.
For City, Ndiaye looks like a player who could be dropped straight into their positional play without disrupting the rhythm, a rare quality at this level.
From Marseille to Merseyside revelation
Ndiaye joined Everton from Marseille in 2024 and adapted quickly to the Premier League’s intensity. The numbers from last season tell part of the story: six goals and three assists in 32 league appearances.
Those figures do not place him among the division’s headline scorers, but they do not capture his full influence. His role in Everton’s build‑up, his ability to carry the ball from deep and link defence to attack, has made him central to Moyes’ approach. On Merseyside, they know how hard he would be to replace.
His rise has not been confined to club football. Ndiaye has also impressed with Senegal, featuring at the World Cup and contributing one goal and two assists as they reached the last 32. That tournament confirmed he can deliver on the biggest stage.
Now the question is simple and brutal: with Arsenal and City circling and Everton refusing to blink at £80m, who blinks first?
