Manchester City have entered the chase for another attacking player, becoming the latest Premier League heavyweight to register interest in one of the superstars in the league.
The update was broken by respected transfer journalist Ben Jacobs. He reported that City have officially placed Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye on their radar as Enzo Maresca continues to reshape his squad following his move from Chelsea to succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
City’s interest adds another major name to what is fast becoming one of the most contested transfer sagas of the summer, with Everton in no rush to sanction a sale.
Everton’s £80m valuation gives Toffees the upper hand
Any move for the 26-year-old will not come cheap. Everton are said to value Ndiaye at around £80 million. The figure reflects both his importance to Sean Dyche’s side and the strength of his position at Goodison Park, where he remains under a long-term contract.
That valuation hands Everton significant leverage in any negotiations. The Merseyside club under no financial pressure to let their prized attacker leave on the cheap, even with several of England’s biggest clubs circling.
City are far from alone in their admiration. Arsenal have also been tracking Ndiaye’s situation closely, though the Gunners’ primary target further forward remains Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, according to Jacobs.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have already held exploratory talks over a possible deal, while Manchester United have likewise been credited with interest as they search for added craft in the final third.
A rapid rise from Sheffield United to the Premier League’s most wanted list
Ndiaye’s stock has risen sharply since his move from Marseille to Everton. The versatile forward is capable of playing as a central attacking midfielder, a second striker or from either flank.
Across his career at Sheffield United, Marseille and Everton, Ndiaye has scored 43 goals and provided 23 assists in 207 appearances, numbers that underline his growing reputation as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic attacking talents.
His form for Everton has been central to that rise, and it is little surprise that City, still working through a summer of significant change under Maresca, see him as a potential addition capable of adding further unpredictability to their attack.
City’s summer of transformation continues
Ndiaye’s situation is just the latest thread in what has already been a transformative window at the Etihad.
Maresca, back at City for a third spell after departures from Leicester and Chelsea, has overseen an extensive squad overhaul, headlined by the club-record £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
The Italian has also sanctioned exits for several established names, while continuing to monitor the market for further reinforcements. He looks to stamp his own identity on the side that won a domestic and European treble under Guardiola.
Whether City move beyond monitoring Ndiaye’s situation into a formal approach remains to be seen.
