Manchester City have moved ahead of Tottenham in the race for Iliman Ndiaye, with reports saying a £65m deal is in place. Spurs had been in talks, but that move stalled, and City stepped back in after first rejecting an £80m bid for Cody Gakpo earlier on Monday.
Tottenham's pivot
Tottenham are now looking at alternatives, including a loan move for Mykhailo Mudryk. The shift is a setback for a club that had made Ndiaye a clear target, only to see City come through late and take control of the deal.
The fee figure is the one to keep an eye on. Some reporting has put the package at £60m plus £5m in bonuses, while the headline number being carried is £65m.
Ndiaye's appeal
The interest is easier to understand when you look at what Ndiaye has already produced this season. He has 2 Premier League appearances, 180 minutes, 1 assist and a 7.26 rating for Everton, which is a tidy return for a player still early in the campaign.
City's move also fits a wider sense of urgency around the player. Enzo Maresca has not been part of this race, but the reports around Ndiaye have been consistent enough to suggest this is not a club taking a casual look.
Tottenham's recent Premier League form is 0 wins in their last 2 league matches, with defeats to Brentford and Newcastle. City have won their last 2, including a 4-1 away win at Crystal Palace and a 2-1 home win over Bournemouth, and that is the backdrop to the latest twist.
The deal is not officially announced yet, but the direction is clear. City are in front, Tottenham are scrambling for another option, and Ndiaye is now the player at the centre of both clubs' late-window plans.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
