Tottenham Pursue Ndiaye as De Zerbi Seeks Final Attacking Piece

Tottenham Hotspur have already torn up their squad this summer. More than £300 million spent, a new era under Roberto De Zerbi in full swing, and yet the Italian is still not satisfied.

He wants one more. And he knows exactly where.

De Zerbi’s last big swing

Omar Marmoush is in. Savio has arrived from Manchester City. The wide areas at Spurs look busy on paper, but De Zerbi has never been a coach who settles for “good enough” in the final third. He wants another high-end wide attacker, a match-winner to complete his front line before the window slams shut.

For weeks, Cody Gakpo looked like that man. The links were strong, the noise constant. Then the picture changed. The spotlight has moved to Goodison Park and to one of the Premier League’s most explosive late bloomers: Ndiaye.

According to Foot Mercato, Spurs have now formally joined the race for the Everton winger, turning an already intriguing situation into a full-scale tug-of-war.

A three-way fight at the top

Tottenham’s move drags them into direct competition with Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom have been tracking the 26-year-old closely. City see him as a live option to refresh their attacking options after departures in their forward line. Arsenal, always on the lookout for versatility and direct running in wide areas, have kept him firmly on their radar.

Now Spurs are at the table too, and they arrive with intent.

De Zerbi did little to cool the speculation when he spoke on Friday, openly admitting Tottenham’s business is not done.

“I didn’t expect a transfer window like we have done,” he said. “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.”

It was a rare, candid glimpse into the inner workings of a club still spending aggressively. It was also as clear a signal as any that Spurs intend to land a final marquee signing in attack.

Ndiaye’s U-turn and rising stock

Ndiaye’s name has hovered over this window from the start. For much of the summer, it looked like his future lay far from Merseyside. A lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League, specifically Al-Hilal, was widely reported as being close. The deal appeared all but done.

Then came the twist. The player pulled back.

His decision to stay in the Premier League has changed the entire dynamic. Instead of disappearing into the Saudi boom, he has become one of the most coveted wide forwards in England. His blend of power, dribbling and end product has made him a standout at Everton, and the league’s elite have taken notice.

City view him as a direct, ready-made addition who already understands the pace and physicality of the division. Spurs see a winger who fits De Zerbi’s aggressive, high-tempo football. Arsenal sense an opportunity to add another weapon to an already loaded attack.

The scramble is real. But Everton hold the cards.

Everton dig in

For all the noise around Ndiaye, Everton’s stance is blunt. They are not in the mood to sell on the cheap.

The club have placed a huge £80 million valuation on the Senegal international, a figure designed to test the seriousness of any suitor and to make casual interest disappear quickly. With Ndiaye under contract until the summer of 2029, Everton are under no immediate pressure to cash in, even though he has already turned down a new deal.

That rejection has inevitably fuelled talk of an eventual exit. The contract length, though, gives Everton the leverage they need to resist anything but a monster offer.

David Moyes, back in charge at Goodison and well aware of how crucial Ndiaye is to his plans, struck a firm tone when asked about the winger’s future on Friday.

“We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players, that’s for sure,” he said. “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 offers. No formal bids. Just a storm of interest circling around a player whose value climbs with every week he stays and performs in the Premier League.

Who blinks first?

So the stage is set. Tottenham, after a record-breaking outlay, still hunting that final attacking jewel. Manchester City, quietly reshaping their squad and rarely missing when they truly commit to a target. Arsenal, watching, waiting, ready if the numbers make sense.

Everton, meanwhile, sit on an £80m asset, protected by a long contract and a manager who has no intention of weakening his side on the eve of a crucial season.

Ndiaye has already turned his back on one life-changing move this summer. If one of England’s heavyweights finally tests Everton’s resolve, will he resist a second time?