Tottenham are in advanced talks to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, but the move is not a straight swap for Richarlison, who is heading the other way as part of a separate negotiation between the two clubs.
A fee for Ndiaye is understood to be largely agreed, though it remains unclear whether the 26-year-old will actually complete a move to north London. Manchester City are also credited with interest in the forward, complicating Tottenham’s pursuit.
City also chasing Gakpo
City’s interest isn’t confined to Ndiaye. They have held talks over Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, who is also a Tottenham target, though Liverpool would need to identify a replacement before letting him leave.
Everton’s willingness to sell Ndiaye stems from his refusal to commit to a new contract. He has rejected multiple offers from the club and held talks with Saudi side Al-Hilal earlier in the summer.
Richarlison heads back to Everton
Terms are agreed in principle for Richarlison to rejoin Everton, where he would compete with first-choice striker Thierno Barry — a role made available by uncertainty over Beto’s future at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Brazilian is in the final year of his Tottenham contract and, according to head coach Roberto de Zerbi, has told him repeatedly that he wants to leave. Speaking after Tottenham’s 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle, De Zerbi said: “Richarlison, I don’t know. He said too many times he wants to leave.”
Richarlison was left out of the matchday squad for that game, along with Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr — both of whom De Zerbi confirmed have also asked to leave the club.
“Danso came to me two days ago and he said wants to leave and Pape Sarr the same, but he suffered a small injury, but he is almost ready to train,” De Zerbi said. “I have very good relationships but if they want to leave, they have to bring the solution, the economic solution, to the club, and they can go.”
Squad pressure building at both ends
Danso’s path to regular football has narrowed with Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke arriving to challenge for a central-defensive role, while Micky van de Ven has signed a new contract and been given the captaincy. Sunderland made an approach for Danso on a season-long loan, but Tottenham turned it down.
Sarr’s situation is similarly squeezed following the early-window arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali — signings that came as part of Tottenham breaking their club-record transfer fee twice in the space of a week. The 23-year-old Senegal international has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs and Turkish side Besiktas, but Juventus are understood to be confident of securing him on a loan with a conditional obligation to buy.
Richarlison, meanwhile, was Tottenham’s top scorer last season with 11 goals and played a key role in a survival battle that went to the final day. Earlier this month De Zerbi acknowledged the difficulty of replacing him, saying “it’s not easy to find another striker like Richarlison.” That task has already begun: Manchester City loanee Omar Marmoush started in Richarlison’s place against Newcastle last week.
Wider picture at Goodison Park
Everton’s transfer business extends beyond the Ndiaye and Richarlison deals. The club are increasingly confident of bringing Jack Grealish back on loan from Manchester City, though the exact terms are complicated by Grealish entering the final year of his Etihad Stadium contract. He is said to have prioritised a return to Everton, where he spent last season on loan, ahead of a switch to boyhood club Aston Villa, who have also shown interest.
Everton are also closing in on a £9m deal for Fulham right-back Kenny Tete, a move that came close to happening last summer. Fulham, anticipating his departure, have opened talks to sign Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Ratiu as a replacement.
All of it forms part of a wider chain of Premier League deals clubs are working to complete before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. Tottenham’s own context adds urgency: despite spending more than £300m this summer to rebuild after consecutive 17th-place finishes, they sit bottom of the table having lost their opening two games, against Brentford and Newcastle, without scoring a goal.
