Tottenham Join Ndiaye Transfer Battle as De Zerbi Seeks Final Winger
Tottenham Hotspur have barged into one of the window’s most intriguing transfer battles, joining Manchester City and Arsenal in the chase for Everton star Ndiaye.
Spurs have already torn up and rebuilt much of their squad under Roberto De Zerbi, authorising spending of more than £300 million. It has not cooled his appetite. He still wants one more wide forward, one more weapon to finish off his attacking reshuffle before the deadline.
Omar Marmoush is in. Savio has arrived from Manchester City. Yet De Zerbi keeps pushing for another high-end option out wide, and attention has swung from Cody Gakpo to Ndiaye, the Senegal international who has lit up Goodison Park and, per Foot Mercato, climbed to the top of Tottenham’s list.
That shift raises the stakes. What was already a simmering situation around Ndiaye now looks like a full-blown tug-of-war, with three of the Premier League’s powerhouses circling a 26-year-old under a long contract and playing the best football of his career.
De Zerbi wants “one player more”
Speaking on Friday, De Zerbi made it clear Tottenham are not done.
"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."
Those words were as close to a public green light as a selling club will get. Spurs have money spent, but not yet spent up. They want that “one specific position” filled, and the profile is obvious: a wide attacker with end product, versatility and the physical edge to live in De Zerbi’s intense system.
Ndiaye ticks every box.
From Saudi U-turn to Premier League storm
Ndiaye’s summer has already taken one dramatic turn. For weeks, he looked destined for the Saudi Pro League, with a lucrative move to Al-Hilal reported to be almost wrapped up before the player pulled back late in the process.
That decision to stay in England has transformed his market. Once he made it clear he wanted to remain in the Premier League, interest from the division’s elite followed quickly. Manchester City, reshaping their own forward options after departures in attack, have been tracking him as a possible replacement. Arsenal have kept a close eye on his situation. Now Tottenham have stepped into the ring.
The pressure around the player has risen with every phone call and scouting trip, but Everton have not blinked.
Everton dig in behind £80m price tag
The Toffees know exactly what they have. Ndiaye is under contract at Goodison Park until the summer of 2029, giving Everton a commanding position at the negotiating table. They have already moved to protect that status with a huge valuation.
The Merseyside club are understood to want around £80 million for their Senegal star, a figure designed to flush out the time-wasters and leave only the most serious contenders standing. It is also a number that reflects both his importance on the pitch and the length of his deal.
Ndiaye has already turned down a new contract offer, a detail that would normally embolden suitors. Yet Everton still feel no immediate pressure to cash in, and they are making that stance clear.
Asked directly about the interest in his forward, Everton manager David Moyes struck a firm tone on Friday.
"We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players, that’s for sure. 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."
No contact. No hurry. No discount.
Three giants, one winger, and a hard line
So the scene is set. Tottenham, newly aggressive and flush from a record outlay, want a final attacking jewel for De Zerbi. Manchester City see Ndiaye as a possible answer to their own reshaping. Arsenal are in the background, watching, waiting.
Everton, meanwhile, sit on a long contract, an £80m price tag and a player who has already turned down Saudi millions to stay in the Premier League.
Someone will have to blink. Will it be a club unwilling to go that high, or a boardroom on Merseyside finally persuaded by an offer too big to refuse?
