Big 6 Rivals in ‘Bidding War’ Over PL Star

According to a report from TalkSPORT, City are ‘interested’ in a move for Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, but will need to do battle with Arsenal if they want be successful in their pursuit.

Everton aren’t willing to let him go without a fight – any club wishing to sign him will have to pay no less than £80 million to acquire his services.

The Toffees are under no pressure to sell him just yet, as his contract does not expire until 2029, but he did turn down the offer of an extension earlier in the summer. As of yet, he hasn’t submitted a transfer request, but they will need to figure out what to do with him before his current deal ends.

Furthermore, according to TransferFeed, plenty of other top clubs are in the mix. These include Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as teams in the Saudi Pro League. Previously, Chelsea have also been amongst the interested parties. Clearly, Ndiaye is a man in demand.

Previously, former Everton man Louis Saha encouraged the Toffees to everything in their power to hold onto Ndiaye, emphasising his importance to the club.

Saha said: “It is extremely important to keep him and he can still improve as well. There haven’t been too many rumours about Iliman Ndiaye yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves to a bigger club in a year or two.”

Iliman Ndiaye 2025/26 Premier League stats

Iliman Ndiaye 2026 World Cup stats

What would Iliman Ndiaye bring to Man City or Arsenal?

A creative, adaptable attacking player who is at his best when running at players and creating space, Ndiaye would be a brilliant addition to any team in the Premier League.

While he excels most playing as a right winger, he can also function effectively on the left wing, as an attacking midfielder or even as an out-and-out striker.

Such pliability is crucial in the modern game, where rotation is becoming more and more prevalent. Players are being asked to play more games than ever before and at a very high level of intensity, so it’s important to have players who can field multiple roles.

On top of this, he is also very two-footed, making it difficult for defenders to predict his movements. At 26 years of age, he is just on the cusp of his prime.