Liverpool Echo

Everton star Iliman Ndiaye looks poised to join Manchester City after they agreed a £65m deal with Everton

Manchester City have agreed to sign Everton's Iliman Ndiaye for a fee bigger than the one that would have taken the mercurial winger to Tottenham Hotspur.

Ndiaye was being lined-up to make a £60m move to Tottenham in a separate deal to the one that would have brought Richarlison back to Everton.

That latter deal now appears in real jeopardy with Richarlison releasing an angry statement this evening.

But Ndiaye to Spurs certainly seems off. That's because the Senegal international is poised for City.

The Etihad Stadium outfit have agreed a deal with the Blues that will see them pay £60m plus £5m in add ons.

That represents a significant profit for Everton, who paid Marseille £15m for Ndiaye, who has gone to score 17 goals in 74 appearances on Merseyside including the historic last goal at Goodison Park and first at Hill Dickinson Stadium, two summers ago.

He has returned to the Blues in excellent form after the World Cup but there was always a fear among supporters that he could be tempted away before the close of the transfer window after he admitted in the summer to wanting to play in the Champions League.

Tottenham, after a second successive season of finishing just one place above the relegation spots, could not have offered that.

But City, another huge-spending outfit, can, and they have moved for Ndiaye after seeing an £80m bid for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo rejected.

Everton are trying to do another deal with the Carabao Cup and FA Cup holders by re-signing Jack Grealish, who spent last season on loan at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Blues have also launched a bid for AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun with one of their two current centre-forward options, Beto, looking set to join Fiorentina.

Young left-back, Adam Aznou, meanwhile, has signed for Malaga on a season-long loan.

Ndiaye, who has turned down a number of new contract offers from Everton, is expected to undergo a medical with City tomorrow (Tuesday).

Richarlison has been linked with a return to Everton from Tottenham this summer and the Brazilian has now released a statement on his future

Richarlison has made it abundantly clear that no one will pressure him into determining the next chapter of his career, amid ongoing negotiations between Everton and Tottenham over a potential transfer.

Spurs are attempting to secure the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, with Manchester City also in the running, and as part of a separate arrangement, Everton and Tottenham have been in discussions to move Richarlison in the opposite direction. The Brazilian has just 10 months remaining on his contract in north London, though the club hold an option to extend it by a further year.

"Richarlison, I don't know. He said too many times he wants to leave," said Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi on Saturday.

The Brazilian took to social media on Sunday with the message: "I am the villain in many stories that are poorly told."

There had been suggestions that Richarlison had been unable to reach an agreement with his former club despite his fondness for the club, and now the Brazil striker has issued a lengthier statement on Instagram, making it plain that only he will determine what lies ahead in his career - though he has expressed a desire to return to Everton, reports our sister title Football.London.

"After everything I've been through in the last few years, I've decided that NEVER AGAIN will anyone decide my future for me," he said. "I went through a lot of bad things, and almost all of them happened because decisions were made by other people.

"Pressure, threats, retaliation - none of that scares me. I've been through far worse, believe me. I've always made it clear, every time I had the chance, that leaving for another club would only happen if it was also good for the club.

"If it wasn't, I would never accept it... just like I didn't accept it when everything was going badly and they needed me. I stayed and gave everything.

"So I hope they treat my situation with the same respect I've always shown Spurs and everyone who worked with me during this period. Just don't try to decide for me."

Richarlison then added: "If they reach an agreement between Spurs and Everton, I will return to my beloved club. My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted, and it will no longer be like that. Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club's disposal."

The 29-year-old became a huge favourite at Goodison Park before his £60m move to Tottenham in the summer of 2022.

He scored 53 goals in 152 appearances for Everton and was paramount to the club surviving relegation in 2021-22.

Liverpool Carabao Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur moved to avoid historic fixture clash  Liverpool Echo

Richarlison teases Everton transfer after Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham statement  Liverpool Echo

Richarlison, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish transfer latest as Everton set up wild finale  Liverpool Echo

Man City 'make contact' for Cody Gakpo transfer as Liverpool star handed shock option  Liverpool Echo

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur as talks for Bradley Barcola continue

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch believes the sale of Cody Gakpo to Tottenham Hotspur would pave the way for Bradley Barcola to join from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds have made France winger Barcola their No.1 priority this summer as they seek to replace Mohamed Salah, who has joined Turkish side Trabzonspor as a free agent, after the final year of his Anfield contract was cancelled.

Liverpool have been in talks with PSG over a potential club-record deal this summer but are reluctant to meet the asking price of around £140m and are aiming to bring down the fee as negotiations continue.

Meanwhile Netherlands star Gakpo has been linked with a move to Spurs this summer and Crouch, who had spells with both clubs, believes that would be a smart move from the north London outfit.

Crouch told Paddy Power: “It does look like they’ll be getting rid of Gakpo potentially to Spurs, so they need a top-quality winger to come in. Barcola is a player I really like.

“Look, no-one is ever going to be able to replace [Mo] Salah goals-wise, but he’s immensely talented and would be a good signing.

“PSG have got top wingers in (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia and (Desire) Doue so it’s hard for (Barcola) to compete and play 90 minutes regularly, but I think he’d walk into most people’s teams in Europe.

“Gakpo (would) do really well (at Spurs). He would go straight into the squad and be one of the main men.

“Going forward has obviously been a problem for Spurs the last couple of seasons. Certainly last year they missed a lot of creativity and a lot of goals.

“Gakpo would bring something different to the team for sure.”

Liverpool's pre-season period ends on Sunday when they play two back-to-back friendlies with Cesc Fabregas's Como.

Liverpool sent Tottenham Hotspur warning over Cody Gakpo transfer - 'don't understand why'  Liverpool Echo

Liverpool could step up their transfer activity with their pre-season tour of the USA now finished

Liverpool's urgency to enter the transfer market has arguably intensified. The Reds concluded their pre-season tour of the USA on Sunday night with a sobering 4-2 defeat to Leeds United.

The Reds have only signed one player so far this summer, Spanish winger Victor Munoz, with Jeremy Jacquet also arriving following an agreement to sign the defender from Rennes in February. Sunday's game proved a tale of two halves from Andoni Iraola's side as Liverpool established a convincing 2-0 advantage in the first half and appeared completely dominant.

Leeds then overwhelmed a heavily rotated Liverpool after the interval and dealt the Basque head coach his first loss since taking charge. The fallout has prompted numerous supporters on social media to demand additional signings, with the Reds requiring reinforcements in defence and attack before the window shuts.

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Today's developments see the Bradley Barcola saga take an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has reportedly emerged as a target for Tottenham Hotspur.

Bradley Barcola timeline emerges

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that renewed contact will take place between the Reds and PSG this week. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "New contacts [will be] prepared between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain."

Reports have indicated that Barcola is enthusiastic about a switch to Anfield, despite also attracting attention from the likes of Arsenal. Romano added that "conversations will continue next week", though he insisted no agreement is close, affording the Reds a more extended timeframe to finalise the deal.

PSG are reportedly seeking around £145m for the French international, though Liverpool are understood to be keen to drive that figure down considerably. Romano has suggested the deal could drag on throughout the summer, adding that it now "depends on Liverpool, on how much they want to spend."

Spurs in for Cody Gakpo

Spurs are said to be eyeing Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, though the Reds are reluctant to part ways with the Dutch star. Sky Sports reports that Liverpool would be prepared to sanction Gakpo's departure only if a suitable replacement could be found.

The Netherlands international still has four years remaining on his contract, and talkSPORT has indicated that Liverpool would likely demand in the region of £70m for the winger.

Gakpo made 52 appearances for Liverpool last season, contributing nine goals and six assists. Should he leave without a replacement being brought in, it would leave Liverpool relying solely on teenage prospect Rio Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz out wide.

Spurs have splashed out £237m this summer and manager Roberto De Zerbi has hinted more is to come. "The transfer market, it's not finished for sure, but we completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba!" he told football.london last week.

Liverpool could reportedly be open to selling Cody Gakpo to Tottenham Hotspur this summer

Liverpool star Cody Gakpo is reportedly attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, with Reds boss Andoni Iraola set to make a decision on the winger.

The Reds have been tipped to have a busy summer transfer window as they prepare for their return to Premier League action under new manager Iraola.

Victor Munoz remains the only new addition to the Liverpool squad in a deal that was completed this summer, with Jeremy Jacquet also arriving after a transfer was agreed back in February.

Gakpo’s contract at Liverpool runs until the summer of 2030, having only put pen to paper on an extension less than a year ago.

Following the arrival of Iraola as the club’s new manager to replace Arne Slot, Gakpo’s future has been the subject of intense speculation.

The 27-year-old recently returned to pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre following his involvement with the Netherlands national team at the World Cup.

Fabrizio Romano, speaking on the latest edition of the Here We Go Podcast, has flagged Gakpo's potential move to Spurs as a transfer worth monitoring. He anticipates the club will bring in two wide players, identifying Savinho as their primary target.

Following Mohamed Salah's departure and the Achilles injury suffered by Hugo Ekitike, much of the speculation surrounding Liverpool's forward options has been around new additions, rather than potential outgoings.

Iraola spoke earlier this month about the importance of Liverpool bringing more new faces to the club before the transfer window closes.

"We've signed two players, we need more, we know this," Iraola said during his first press conference as Liverpool boss earlier this month.

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"We are working on this. As a coach I want the players here from day one, selfishly, but we know it doesn't work like this, we're working hard for those signings."

In an interview with football.london, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi said that strengthening their attack remains the priority, amid rumours of potential interest in Gakpo.

"It's not finished yet, our transfer window. We have to finish," De Zerbi said.

"The target now is to complete the attacking positions. We want the top level, because we already have important players, but I think to start a new project, we need another couple of important players for sure."

We have to bring another couple, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players. I'm very happy, I'm excited to work with the new players, with the old players.”