Everton's £80m Ndiaye Attracts Interest from Manchester City and Arsenal

Manchester City and Arsenal are locked on to Ndiaye – and Everton know it.

Two of the Premier League’s modern heavyweights have moved the Senegal forward to the top end of their attacking shortlists, with scouts from both the Etihad and the Emirates tracking him closely after his rapid rise on Merseyside, according to talkSPORT.

Everton dig in over £80m price

There is one problem for the chasing pack: Everton are in no mood to fold.

The club have slapped an £80 million valuation on Ndiaye, a fee that underlines his status in David Moyes’ system and his potential over the next five years. With a contract running until the summer of 2029, the Toffees hold a powerful hand. They can wait. Others may have to blink first.

That stance is being tested by the player’s own ambition. Ndiaye has already turned down a new deal at Goodison Park this summer, refusing to commit his long-term future and signalling that he is ready to test himself at the very top of European football. That decision has only sharpened the interest from City and Arsenal, who specialise in swooping when a player looks ready for the next rung.

Near-miss with Saudi Arabia

This is not the first time Everton have had to brace themselves.

Earlier in the summer, Ndiaye came close to a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, in a deal that would have placed him among the growing group of European names heading to the Middle East. The transfer never crossed the line, but the size and seriousness of the Saudi interest showed how far his reputation has travelled beyond England.

Everton kept him then. Keeping him now will be far harder.

Arsenal’s Plan B to Julian Alvarez

Arsenal’s pursuit adds a fascinating layer.

Mikel Arteta wants a forward to complete his attacking jigsaw, a player who can both finish chances and knit together the front line. The dream target remains Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, but the Argentine’s preference for a move to Barcelona has complicated Arsenal’s plans and dragged that chase into uncomfortable territory.

Alvarez is understood to favour the Catalan giants, and that has forced the Gunners to widen the search. Ndiaye has emerged as a serious alternative: a flexible attacker who can operate across the front three or drop in as a creative No.10. For a squad built on rotation and fluid movement, he looks like a clean tactical fit – and a realistic Plan B if the Alvarez pursuit breaks down completely.

City see a perfect stylistic match

Across the league, Manchester City are watching the same player through a different lens.

Enzo Maresca’s recruitment team have followed Ndiaye’s progress since his return to England from Ligue 1, and they see a profile that matches their blueprint: technically sharp, relentless without the ball, comfortable receiving in tight spaces. At City, those traits are non-negotiable.

For a club that rarely buys on impulse, this is a targeted move. Ndiaye would not arrive as a vanity signing but as another cog in a ruthless attacking machine.

From Marseille to Merseyside revelation

Ndiaye only joined Everton from Marseille in 2024, yet he has wasted little time imposing himself on the Premier League.

Six goals and three assists in 32 league appearances last season do not leap off the page in isolation. The numbers are solid, not spectacular. But they only tell part of the story. His influence on Everton’s build-up play, his willingness to drop deep, spin away from pressure and drag the team from defence into attack have made him central to Moyes’ approach.

In a side often forced to suffer without the ball, he has become the out-ball, the transition trigger, the player who turns clearances into counter-attacks. That is hard to replace. Everton’s £80m stance reflects exactly that.

Proven on the international stage

His club form is backed up by his work with Senegal.

Ndiaye featured at the World Cup, scoring once and adding two assists as Senegal reached the last 32. On the biggest stage, he showed the same blend of composure and creativity that has caught the eye in England.

So the situation is clear. Everton have a forward tied down until 2029, valued at £80m and vital to their structure. The player has declined a new deal and looks ready for a step up. Arsenal need an alternative to Julian Alvarez. Manchester City see a stylistic match for their attack.

Something has to give.