Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are reportedly in the final stages of negotiations concerning the possible transfers of Iliman Ndiaye and Richarlison. The clubs are said to be discussing a fee in the region of £60 million for Ndiaye, who has turned down several contract extensions offered by Everton. In addition to the transfer sum, personal terms for a move to north London are also being hammered out. Ndiaye, who arrived at Goodison Park from Marseille two seasons ago, has made a noticeable impact with 17 goals in 74 appearances.
His performances have attracted interest from a number of top clubs, including Manchester City, although the Dutch forward Cody Gakpo – another player Spurs had been tracking – now appears the most likely candidate to join the Etihad. Everton, meanwhile, are keen to bring back former striker Richarlison, with reports suggesting a £35 million price tag is on the table. The Brazilian forward left Merseyside in 2022, moving to Tottenham in a £60 million deal after a prolific spell at Everton in which he netted 53 times in 152 games.
Since his arrival in north London, Richarlison’s time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been marked by injury setbacks and inconsistent form, leaving both the player and the club dissatisfied. Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s manager, confirmed on Saturday that Richarlison – who is now in the final year of his contract – was omitted from the squad for the 2‑0 defeat to Newcastle because he had repeatedly expressed a desire to leave. “Richarlison, I don’t know.
He said too many times he wants to leave,” De Zerbi said, adding that the forward was one of three players who have asked to depart before the transfer deadline, the other two being Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr. Everton’s pursuit of Richarlison appears to be part of a broader strategy to reinforce their attacking options. The club have also been linked with Folarin Balogun as a potential forward addition, but at present their primary focus remains on re‑signing the former Everton man. In addition, De Zerbi has hinted that Tottenham are also scouting for a new striker, with Chelsea’s Pedro Neto reportedly on their radar, although the priority seems to be securing Ndiaye.
Tottenham’s summer spending this window has already topped £300 million. The most recent signing was Omar Marmoush, who arrived on loan with an obligation to buy, joining fellow ex‑Manchester City player Savio Maresca at the club.
Earlier in the season, Spurs invested £237 million for Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while also adding Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. Everton are also continuing talks with Manchester City over a possible deal for Jack Grealish. Sources close to the negotiations say the structure of the agreement is still fluid, with Grealish entering the final year of his contract at City. Grealish was absent as City secured a 4‑1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night.
In parallel, Sunderland have been reported to be exploring a move for a forward who spent last season on loan at Everton, while Nottingham Forest’s proposed £40 million bid for 19‑year‑old midfielder Harrison Armstrong has collapsed. Everton’s board, according to Sky Sports News, unanimously decided not to sell the young academy graduate. Manager David Moyes, speaking after a 1‑1 draw with Bournemouth, stressed that any decision regarding Armstrong would be a "club decision" and not something he could answer on the spot. He added that fan sentiment matters, noting that supporters repeatedly chanted that selling the England U19 international would cause a "riot" among the fanbase.
"You always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong," Moyes said. The transfer saga surrounding both clubs illustrates the high‑stakes nature of the January market, where clubs are juggling financial constraints, player ambitions, and squad balance. For Tottenham, securing a proven goal‑scorer like Ndiaye could provide the cutting edge they need to climb the Premier League table, while offloading Richarlison may free up wages and restore harmony in the dressing room. Everton, on the other hand, hope that bringing back Richarlison will rekindle the attacking spark that made him a fan favourite during his first spell, and they remain vigilant about reinforcing their midfield and forward lines through other potential signings.
As the deadline approaches, both clubs will need to finalize deals quickly, navigating the complexities of medicals, work permits and the ever‑present scrutiny from fans and media alike. The outcome of these negotiations will likely shape the fortunes of both teams for the remainder of the season and could set the tone for their strategies in the upcoming summer window.