Arsenal join Manchester race for Everton’s €80m man
Mikel Arteta has thrown a massive cat among the pigeons. According to reports in the Daily Mail, Arsenal have officially entered the running for Everton’s standout attacker, Iliman Ndiaye. They aren’t alone. Manchester United and Manchester City are also keeping close tabs on the Senegal international.
The Merseysiders aren’t playing ball easily, though. Goodison Park chiefs have slapped a thumping €80 million (£70 million) price tag on their prized asset. Money talks. But Everton hold all the cards right now because the forward is locked down on a long-term contract running until June 2029. They want a bidding war.
The battlefield for Ndiaye’s signature
United’s recruitment team initially prioritised a defensive midfield anchor. Yet, Ndiaye’s sheer versatility forced him onto the Old Trafford radar anyway. Meanwhile, the Etihad hierarchy is watching from the wings, searching for creative depth. It’s a chaotic three-way tussle for a player who lit up the Premier League last season.
Everton need cold, hard cash. David Moyes has a massive squad rebuilding job on his hands this summer, and selling Ndiaye is the easiest way to fund it. Pragmatism rules football.
United will almost certainly drop out of this one. They desperately need a proper, elite defensive engine room presence, making Ndiaye an expensive luxury they can’t afford right now. City have the financial muscle to pull it off effortlessly. Their move depends entirely on the future of Jack Grealish and whether he decides to sign a new deal or secure another loan move away.
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Arsenal makes the most sense. Arteta is crying out for an unpredictable, press-resistant forward who can comfortably occupy any position across the front three. Ndiaye fits that bill perfectly. Expect the usual summer saga with negotiations dragging on for weeks, but a structured deal worth closer to €65 million should see the Senegalese star holding up a red shirt at the Emirates.
