Tottenham's £80m Chase for Ndiaye: De Zerbi Demands More Firepower
Tottenham Hotspur have already torn up their squad this summer. More than £300 million spent, an attack rebuilt, a new era under Roberto De Zerbi taking shape at speed.
And still, it is not enough.
The North London club have now moved into the race for Everton’s Ndiaye, the Senegal international rapidly becoming one of the most coveted wide forwards in the Premier League. Their interest, reported by Foot Mercato, drops Spurs straight into a three-way fight with Manchester City and Arsenal for one of Goodison Park’s crown jewels.
De Zerbi wants one more
Spurs have not been shy. Omar Marmoush is in. Savio has arrived from Manchester City. The front line looks younger, sharper, far more tailored to De Zerbi’s aggressive, vertical football.
Yet the Italian has been clear: he still wants another wide attacker.
Speaking on Friday about Tottenham’s transfer plans, De Zerbi laid out the situation with typical bluntness: "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 “one specific position” has now led Spurs to Ndiaye, a player whose blend of pace, power and directness has turned him into a focal point at Everton and a serious option for the division’s elite.
Tottenham had been heavily linked with Cody Gakpo earlier in the window. The spotlight has shifted. Ndiaye is now front and centre.
From Saudi brink to Premier League tug-of-war
Ndiaye’s summer has already veered wildly. For weeks, he looked destined for the Saudi Pro League. A move to Al-Hilal was widely described as close, the kind of lucrative switch that has lured so many top-level players away from Europe.
Then came the twist.
The 26-year-old pulled back, opting to stay in the Premier League. That single decision has changed the complexion of the market. With his stance clear, interest from England’s biggest clubs surged.
Manchester City, reshaping their own attacking options after departures in wide areas, see Ndiaye as a potential answer. Arsenal, constantly hunting for depth and variety in their forward line, are watching closely. Now Spurs have stepped in, adding a new layer of tension to an already crowded pursuit.
Everton dig in
Everton, though, hold the cards.
Ndiaye is tied to a contract on Merseyside until the summer of 2029. That long-term deal gives the club enormous leverage, even after the player recently turned down an offer of fresh terms. There is no release clause to exploit, no looming deadline to force their hand.
So Everton have drawn a line.
The valuation sits at around £80 million, a figure designed to test just how serious his suitors really are. It is not a number that invites a bargain. It is a number that says: if you want him, you will have to pay.
David Moyes, back in charge at Goodison and desperate to avoid losing his best talent on the eve of a new campaign, struck a firm tone when asked about Ndiaye on Friday.
"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."
Publicly, at least, Everton are calm. No bids, no talks, no panic.
Spurs test their ambition
Behind the scenes, the picture is more nuanced. Tottenham’s recruitment drive under De Zerbi has already signalled a shift in ambition and identity. A club that once hesitated at the very top end of the market has just smashed through the £300m barrier in a single window.
Now comes the real question.
Do Spurs push that spending even further to land a player who would not just complete De Zerbi’s attacking unit, but also deny a direct rival a major signing? Or does that £80m price tag force them to look elsewhere, turning this into a straight shootout between City and Arsenal?
Ndiaye’s decision to stay in England has already reshaped one market. His next move could reshape the balance of power at the top of the Premier League.
