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 hammering out the financial details, with a tentative price tag of around £60 million being floated for Ndiaye. The forward, who has turned down several contract extensions offered by Everton, is also in talks over personal terms for a move back to north London, indicating that both parties are keen to reach an agreement soon.
Ndiaye has been a key player for Everton since his arrival from Marseille two seasons ago, netting 17 goals in 74 appearances. His performances have attracted interest from several Premier League heavyweights, including Manchester City. However, the Dutch striker Cody Gakpo, who was also on Tottenham's radar, now appears more likely to complete a move to the Etihad Stadium, potentially opening the door for Tottenham to focus on securing Ndiaye.
Meanwhile, Everton are eager to bring back former striker Richarlison, with reports suggesting a fee of roughly £35 million is on the table. The Brazilian forward, who left Goodison Park in 2022 for a £60 million move to Antonio Conte's Tottenham side, has struggled to find consistency at the north London club. Over his two spells with Everton, Richarlison scored 53 goals in 152 games, endearing himself to the Toffees' supporters.
Yet his time at Tottenham has been marred by injuries and limited playing time, prompting the player to request a departure. Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Saturday that Richarlison, who is in the final year of his contract, was omitted from the squad for the 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United 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, underscoring the strained relationship between the player and the coaching staff.
The manager also revealed that he is looking to add another forward before the transfer window shuts, with Chelsea's Pedro Neto also reportedly on Tottenham's shortlist. Nevertheless, the club appears to be prioritising the acquisition of Ndiaye as the primary target.
Tottenham have already committed more than £300 million this summer. Their most recent signing is Omar Marmoush, who arrived on loan with an obligation to buy, joining former Manchester City teammate Savio on a deal worth £85 million. Earlier in the window, the Spurs secured Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke for a combined £237 million, while also adding experienced players Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. Everton, on the other hand, are juggling multiple transfer pursuits.
In addition to Richarlison, they have shown interest in forward Folarin Balogun, though the club's immediate focus remains on reuniting with their former striker. The Toffees are also in advanced talks with Manchester City regarding a possible deal for Jack Grealish, who is in the final year of his contract with the Citizens.
Sky Sports News reports that the structure of the Grealish deal is still fluid, with Everton hoping to finalise the move within the next 48 to 72 hours. Grealish was absent as City secured a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, adding further speculation about his future. Elsewhere in the transfer market, Sunderland have been linked with a forward who spent the previous season on loan at Everton, while Nottingham Forest's bid for Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong has collapsed.
Forest reportedly offered £40 million for the 19‑year‑old, but Everton's board voted unanimously against the sale. Manager David Moyes stressed that any decision regarding Armstrong would be a "club decision" and not something he would determine alone.
"You always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong," Moyes told the media after Everton's 1‑1 draw with Bournemouth, acknowledging the vocal fan reaction to the potential departure. The broader context of these negotiations reflects the intense competition for talent in the Premier League this season. Tottenham's aggressive spending spree, Everton's strategic attempts to rebuild their attacking options, and Manchester City's willingness to negotiate on Grealish all illustrate the dynamic nature of the market. Fans across the league are closely watching these developments, aware that the outcomes could significantly influence the clubs' fortunes in the upcoming campaign.
In summary, Tottenham and Everton are poised to finalize deals that could see Iliman Ndiaye return to north London and Richarlison head back to Goodison Park, pending agreement on fees and personal terms. Both clubs are also exploring additional signings to bolster their squads before the deadline, with Tottenham eyeing Pedro Neto and Everton maintaining interest in Folarin Balogun and Jack Grealish. The next few days will be crucial as negotiations intensify and clubs aim to secure the players they need to achieve their seasonal objectives.