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Just when it looked like Tottenham Hotspur were positioning themselves to capture Iliman Ndiaye in a swap-and-cash tangle involving Richarlison, Manchester City have swept in to hijack the transfer entirely.
According to The Athletic and David Ornstein, City have struck an agreement in principle with Everton for a deal worth up to £65M (£60M up front plus £5M in performance-related add-ons).
The late-stage swoop completely alters the landscape of deadline day for Everton, explaining the sudden stalemate in Spurs' negotiations and shedding new light on why Richarlison’s return to Everton hit a speedbump.
City turned their attention directly to Ndiaye after seeing an ambitious £80M bid for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo flatly rejected. Having lost attacking firepower with Savio and Omar Marmoush departing, Enzo Maresca’s recruitment team earmarked the Senegalese international for his tactical flexibility and pressing intensity across the frontline.
For Ndiaye, the draw of Champions League football proved decisive. Having turned down multiple contract extension offers from Everton over recent months — insisting on a release clause — Ndiaye made it clear that, while he loved his time on Merseyside, he was determined to play at the highest European level.
Ndiaye is expected to undergo his medical with Manchester City on Tuesday ahead of the transfer window deadline.
Tottenham's advanced negotiations stalled once City entered the fray, forcing Spurs to pivot towards alternative targets like Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea.
With Ndiaye heading to the Etihad, Everton are actively working to negotiate a separate deal or inclusion that would bring Jack Grealish back to Merseyside after his previous loan stint.
For Everton, losing Ndiaye — who has been in lively but typically ineffective form following his summer World Cup campaign — could be a massive blow to David Moyes’s attacking engine room. However, receiving a guaranteed £60M gives the Everton hierarchy crucial funds to reinvest late in the window.
In addition to negotiating for Grealish, the Blues are actively pursuing AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun as Beto edges closer to a move to Fiorentina. It promises to be a frantic final stretch before the transfer window slams shut.
Story sourced from The Athletic [£]
Reader Comments (24)
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2 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:42:03
Richy at 35m with 10 months on his contract is beyond negligent. Basically 3m a month for a year, plus wages on a player they’re desperate to get rid of 🤷♂️
3 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:42:39
It also probably adds further weight to Grealish coming back on loan for a season - he'll then be free if we want him next year.
As for the Richarlison deal, well that looks likes it's all gone south now.
4 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:48:42
5 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:49:31
Good player but I think his ambition was bigger than Everton could offer right now. So good luck Iliman.
Everton need players who are going to drive the team's results to meet their ambitions, with loyalty.
I can see Grealish coming back.
Grealish/George and Dibling/Johnson I think is a decent set of options if Dibling can press on.
Left back, right back and up top are still the problem!
6 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:50:11
Hopefully that’s true and that Grealish and Balogun are on their way too.
We really need a LB with Aznou going to Malaga on loan, as well as the obvious RB deficiency.
7 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:51:51
8 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:53:55
https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2094512116396945504?s=20
So, looks like outgoings are cracking on: £88M thus far
NDiaye: £60M + £5M
Iroegbunam: £13M + £10M [€15M + €12M]
Beto: £15M + ?? [€18M]
Patterson also being shopped around, and Aznou on loan
In terms of late incomings:
Kenny tete: £9m done
Melvin bard: £4m pretty much done
Jack Grealish: loan. Pretty much done
Folarin Balogun: Basics agreed it seems but there's lots of variance on the costs, from £18M, which seems fine, to £40M, that seems a bit mad.
Richarlison: £25M + £10M still apparently possible IF Spurs cough up some cash for est of the contract
9 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:54:00
With Aznou gone as well we only have 6 defenders, this squad is very light on numbers so here's hoping there's a couple of suprises coming tomorrow.
10 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:54:00
Personally I'm underwhelmed about Grealish but even more so on spending stupid money on Richarlison.
And the RB?
11 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:55:00
12 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:55:23
Our options on the wing are pretty good if Jack returns, Balogun is a more than adequate replacement for Beto but we desperately need full backs.
And not Kenny bloody Tete!!
13 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:56:00
14 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:56:07
I think this probably rules out Richy.
15 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:56:51
16 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:57:10
Hopefully some other clauses as well as a big sell on clause.
The 40M valuation of Balogun was much more in line with his performances for Monaco and in the World Cup. I'm surprised we'd pay that much but if we're going to sell Ndiaye and Beto, then I'm all for it. I think he'll do very well for us.
17 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:57:54
Winger needed now, Grealish me thinks on his way.
Wouldn't mind Rico Lewis, if 65m for Ndiaye & 40 for balogun, 25m left for a decent RB ?
18 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:58:39
19 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:02:53
Balogun for £40m
Beto for Eur 18m
Ndiaye for £65m
20 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:04:23
Centre Forwards: (2) Balogun, Barry
Attacking MF: (6) Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Johnson, George, Dibling, Alcaraz
Midfield: (5) Norgaard, Garner, Rohl, Hackney, Armstrong
Centre Backs: (4) Branthwaite, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane
Full Backs: (4) Mykolenko, Tete, Bard, Patterson
GK: (3) Pickford, Travers, Tom King
Patterson and Alcaraz could still move, can't see Richarlison coming in.
Not sure if there'll be any more surprises, although there's still one loan spot left after Grealish.
Pickford
Mykolenko / Branthwaite / Tarkowski / Tete
Garner, Hackney
Grealish, KDH, George
Balogun
Subs: Barry, Harrison, Johnson, Rohl, Dibling, O'Brien, Norgaard, Keane
21 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:05:57
OGC Nice are monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Niels Nkounkou as they prepare for the potential departure of Melvin Bard this summer. Nkounkou has been frozen out at Frankfurt and instructed to train away from the first team.
Another player we should have kept?????? Err, I think not.
22 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:06:53
23 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:09:13
24 Posted 31/08/2026 at 21:10:40
All this talk of £80m is just fantasy money. He really isn't that good. Good player but not £80m good.
Balogun for £40m also sounds correct. The quoted £18m earlier was nonsense.
Sky Sports are reporting that Richarlison is claiming he's owed some sort of bonus payment but we're refusing to pay it. Hence the deal is ongoing.
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1 Posted 31/08/2026 at 20:05:55