Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye has signed for Everton in a £65 million ($88 million) transfer, reports said Monday. A total of £60m is expected to be paid up front from City, plus a further £5m potentially under performance bonuses. The Premier League outfit would then be making another big move late in the transfer window.
However, there had been speculation that Tottenham had also been interested in the 26-year-old but City were said to have outbid their domestic rivals. The transfer follows City’s failure to make any further progress with Liverpool’s forward, Cody Gakpo. Liverpool weren’t keen on losing Gakpo at the end of the window without attracting someone to fill the void. It was a blow to City and they turned their focus to Ndiaye who has become their attacking preferred.
Ndiaye has been a source of inspiration in English football, before joining Everton, and looks the part as a key attacking figure capable of covering the forward line. His versatility and direct style is likely to give Pep Guardiola another choice in the final third.
City said they would welcome the signing, as they seek to bolster their squad ahead of a costly summer recruitment strategy to ramp up their squad after coming close to finishing second last season.
The club have been much on the move and are still preparing their squad for yet another challenging season in the domestic and European leagues. Ndiaye’s transfer would also be a big deal for Everton, who will be handed a large sum of money for the Senegal international’s signature.
City are currently in the process of finalising the legals and bringing the deal to a conclusion for the winger as the transfer window is quickly coming to a close.
