Tottenham Join Race for Everton Star Ndiaye

Tottenham have stepped into the race for Everton star Ndiaye, turning an already heated transfer saga into a full-blown Premier League tug of war.

The North London club, already past the £300 million mark in this window, are still not done. Roberto De Zerbi wants one more weapon out wide. Not a squad filler. A starter. A difference-maker.

They have brought in Omar Marmoush. They have brought in Savio from Manchester City. Yet De Zerbi is still pushing for another wide attacker to complete what he sees as his ideal forward line before the deadline. Spurs had been strongly linked with Cody Gakpo, but the spotlight has swung firmly onto Ndiaye, one of the standout performers at Goodison Park in recent seasons, according to Foot Mercato.

And this is no quiet enquiry. Tottenham’s move drops them straight into a three-way battle with Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom have been tracking the 26-year-old’s situation closely and see him as a potential game-changer.

De Zerbi wants “one player more”

Speaking on Friday, De Zerbi laid his cards on the table.

"I didn’t expect a transfer window like we have done. I think we can do one player more in one specific position. 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 leaves little doubt: despite record outlay, Tottenham are still in the market and that “one specific position” looks tailor-made for a player of Ndiaye’s profile.

From Saudi brink to Premier League scramble

Ndiaye’s future has been a running story all summer. At one point, he looked set to leave England altogether. A lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal pushing hard, was reportedly close to completion before the forward pulled back at the last moment.

That U-turn changed everything. His decision to stay in the Premier League has opened the door for the division’s elite. Manchester City, reshaping their attacking options after departures in the squad, are understood to be viewing him as a possible replacement option. Arsenal and now Spurs are circling too.

The competition is fierce. The price is fiercer.

Everton dig in over £80m valuation

Everton, though, are not acting like a club forced into a sale. Quite the opposite. They hold a strong hand and know it.

Ndiaye is under contract on Merseyside until the summer of 2029. That long deal gives the Toffees real leverage, even with the forward having recently turned down a new contract offer. The message from the club is clear: if anyone wants their star, they will have to pay.

The valuation? Around £80 million. A figure set high enough to scare away opportunists and leave only the most serious bidders at the table.

For now, Everton insist there is no fire to go with the transfer smoke. Asked about the growing noise around Ndiaye, manager David Moyes was firm.

"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."

A test of will – and of wallets

So the stage is set. Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal all watching the same player, all working against the same deadline, all aware that Everton will not blink easily.

Spurs have spent big and moved fast under De Zerbi. The question now is simple: after reshaping almost an entire squad, will they go once more into the market and push past £80 million to land Ndiaye – or will one of their rivals steal in first?