Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a new Premier League target after suffering a new contract blow
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Tottenham Hotspur’s season under Thomas Frank has been difficult to define thus far, as the Lilywhites sit in fifth place in the league despite some poor home form which culminated in the side being booed off the pitch after a 1-0 derby defeat to Chelsea.
Defeat to the Blues that day was the low point of a largely positive season which has also included good form in the Champions League, while Frank’s side remain on course to challenge for a return to Europe’s premier club competition through league position for next season.
Off the pitch, however, Spurs were given a blow following reports that Morgan Rogers has signed a new contract at Aston Villa. The 23-year-old had been admired by Spurs for some time but a deal was viewed as difficult to obtain over the summer, while this latest news suggests that Rogers is set to remain at Villa Park for the long run. But Spurs might already have an alternative target lined up.
Spurs linked with move for Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye
One Premier League star whose stocks have only continued to rise so far this season is Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who has dazzled for David Moyes’ side to attract the attention of some of the division’s biggest clubs.
The 25-year-old is known as a silky dribbler but has already bagged four goals and an assist so far this season, having quietly registered nine league strikes last term in his first season in the top flight of English football, having joined Everton ahead of rival suitors Crystal Palace. Spurs are reported to be one of the clubs who have taken an interest in the Senegalese.
Former Everton and Scotland winger Pat Nevin wrote for BBC Sport: “I often think of players who would be even more impressive playing with better sides, teams who have more of the ball and spend more time in the attacking third. Watching Everton's Iliman Ndiaye so far this season, I suspect he could do a phenomenal job if he was playing for Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal, he is that good.”
Ndiaye might already be better than Xavi Simons
If Ndiaye is destined for bigger and better things, Spurs would be smart to target a move for the 25-year-old now before his price tag continues to rise further. The Toffees might demand up to £70million for their prize asset according to TEAMtalk, citing price tags for comparable players in the current inflated transfer market.
But just by looking at Ndiaye’s performances since he arrived at Everton, there is a fair argument to make that he would be a worthwhile investment. In comparison with Spurs’ marquee £52m signing Xavi Simons, who has registered zero goals and one assist in the Premier League so far this season, Ndiaye is more of a game-changer, takes more risks with the ball and is more of an effective contributor to goals at present.
It has not been an easy start to the season for ex-Bundesliga playmakers, as both Simons and Florian Wirtz have struggled to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League. This is nothing new, as the English top flight has always been difficult to adapt to for some of Europe’s biggest names from on the continent, but it is all the more striking now with the massive transfer fees involved and the increased PSR risks faced by clubs.
All things considered, Ndiaye is currently a better player than Xavi Simons. He may not have as much experience as Simons on the biggest European stages, but he has more than shown his credentials for getting there in the near future. The things the Everton man can do with the ball are rivalled by very few, and it would be no surprise to see Spurs and several of Europe’s biggest clubs battling it out for his signature in 2026.