Spurs have been linked with a late bid for an Everton star - and they could send one of their own players the other way in return.
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Tottenham Hotspur may have spent an estimated £305m on summer signings already, but their transfer business might not be done just yet – a new report suggests that they might have an eyebrow-raising swap deal in mind ahead of the deadline.
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Spurs are throwing their hat into the ring for Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye amid continued speculation about the Senegal international’s future. The story suggests that their offer might not only include cash, however, with striker Richarlison potentially being added to the deal as a makeweight.
Spurs aren’t the only team interested in Ndiaye, however, and there would be a number of barriers to clear before such a trade could take place – so is it likely to happen before the transfer window closes this coming Tuesday?
Spurs and Everton could agree a sensational swap deal
According to Foot Mercato, Ndiaye has been singled out as an option for Spurs as they look to add one more attacking player to the squad after the recent additions of Sávio and Omar Marmoush.
The report doesn’t suggest that the Senegalese forward is their only target. Monaco’s Folarin Balogun, who was extensively linked with a move to North London earlier in the summer, is also cited as a potential target – but if they move for Ndiaye instead, it’s suggested that they could use Richarlison as a bargaining chip.
The Brazilian striker spent four seasons with Everton before signing for Spurs in 2022, but a move back to his former club wouldn’t only represent a rather emotional reunion – it would also provide the Toffees with the attacking depth they need should that Beto could leave in the coming days, as has been widely speculated.
Even if Everton were keen on the idea in principle, however, there are some pretty substantial issues – not least the fact that Manchester City are also keen on Ndiaye, with Foot Mercato’s story suggesting that negotiations over a move to the Etihad are “progressing positively.”
Everton, for their part, value Ndiaye at £80m according to The Guardian, and have made it clear that they won’t sell the 26-year-old on the cheap. During his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Bournemouth, David Moyes told the media that his side were “not in a hurry to sell our best players” when asked about the winger’s future.
Spurs, in short, would not only have to persuade Ndiaye to sign with them instead of Manchester City, but would have to part with a considerable sum of money in order to make such a deal happen. But given the free-spending manner in which they’ve approached the transfer window, that might not be entirely implausible.
Signing Ndiaye would be one more statement in a window full of them
As it stands, the sheer volume of reports which suggest that Ndiaye will move to Manchester City suggest that it’s a far more likely outcome than his heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Tuesday’s deadline – but Spurs have demonstrated that they’re willing to outbid other Premier League teams already.
They did just that when they signed Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, not only offering the Portuguese midfielder a more substantial salary than Manchester United were prepared to, but also bidding £10m more than the Red Devils. It was an expensive deal, but they got their man – and have accrued plenty of spending power after keeping their purse strings tightly closed for a number of years.
Everton, for their part, may also be happy to agree a deal which included Richarlison, a player whose goalscoring record last season suggests that he still has plenty to offer. It would, at the very least, save them some trouble in the closing days of the window while they work to add three or four new faces.
In reality, it’s far more likely that Manchester City – who are scarcely demonstrating any concerns about overspending themselves – win the race for Ndiaye, and that Spurs are compelled to look elsewhere if they do indeed want to sign another forward.
Foot Mercato’s claims have not been widely corroborated and their subject may be more of a flight of fancy than a transfer story which is destined to take place – but in a strange and eventful transfer window, it probably wouldn’t register as too much of a shock if this particular tale came true.