Attacking overhauls in the final days of the window often involve players moving in opposite directions. Agreements in principle still need medicals and personal terms before they become official. Forwards who asked to leave one club can find a route back to a former home.
Clubs that miss out on one target sometimes pivot quickly to another. Senegal internationals with Premier League minutes remain in demand across north London and beyond. Separate deals that happen to run in parallel still change both squads at once.
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement in principle to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, with Richarlison heading back to the Merseyside club. The two moves are separate and not linked, according to sources, and remain subject to personal terms and medicals.
Ndiaye joined Everton from Marseille in 2024 for £15million and has scored 17 goals in 73 games. He declined multiple new contract offers last season and started Everton’s first three matches of this campaign.
Richarlison is returning to the club he left for Spurs in 2022 in a deal worth up to £60million. The Brazilian has scored 32 goals in 134 appearances for Tottenham. Roberto De Zerbi left him out of the squad for Saturday’s defeat at Newcastle after the player asked to leave.
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Manchester City had shown interest in Ndiaye as part of talks that also involved Jack Grealish, but City are now focused on Cody Gakpo. Tottenham had also looked at Gakpo before turning to the Everton forward.
Ndiaye has previously been linked with Arsenal as the Gunners assessed attacking options. Any serious pursuit from north London now looks to have been overtaken by Tottenham’s agreement.
Spurs have already added several attackers this summer. Ndiaye would offer proven wide quality alongside new arrivals such as Omar Marmoush and Savio. Richarlison’s return to Everton closes a four-year spell that was badly affected by injuries.
Arsenal’s own late attacking search continues after Julian Alvarez made clear he does not want to join. Supporters will note another name coming off the market. Formal announcements for both Everton and Tottenham deals are expected once medicals are complete.
The window closes on Tuesday night. Ndiaye’s next destination now appears to be Tottenham unless the remaining formalities collapse.