Man City want Ndiaye. He’d go without a guarantee of starting. That’s Everton’s problem

• Manchester City have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Ndiaye this summer
• Ndiaye would reportedly consider the move even without a guaranteed start
• Everton want £70m – but City’s interest changes the whole summer picture

We already knew the agent was making calls. We already knew the contract talks had stalled. We already knew the World Cup was about to put Ndiaye in the biggest shop window in football. What hasn’t always been clear is that Manchester City are the club at the front of the queue.

As reported a few days ago, City are considering a move for Ndiaye this summer as incoming manager Enzo Maresca and director of football Hugo Viana shape their attacking options for 2026-27.

This is not new interest – City first made enquiries back in December, with Liverpool and Tottenham also in the picture at that point. But there is a difference between December monitoring and a serious summer push. This feels like the latter.

The detail that should worry Everton most

It is not the City interest itself, as uncomfortable as that is. It is this: Ndiaye would reportedly consider a move to the Etihad even knowing he would not be an automatic starter.

That feels more like more than just an agent testing the water. And not someone keeping his options open while quietly hoping his own club matches his ambitions. A player who would knowingly accept a squad role at a bigger club over a starting and starring role at Everton.

That is a different situation to the one Everton have been publicly managing. You cannot negotiate a contract extension with someone who has already zoned out.

The £70m asking price is a strong defensive position – journalist Alan Nixon, who has a solid record on Everton stories, believes any move may also depend on City first resolving their Omar Marmoush situation.

But Man City tend to find a way to pay what they need to pay. Even amid the threat of 115 Premier League charges.

What this means for the rest of Everton’s summer

The brutal truth is that if City come with the right number and Ndiaye wants to go, Everton will almost certainly sell. And that fee – significant as it is – will need to do a lot of heavy lifting.

Right back, central midfield, wide attacking cover, potentially a striker. The Hackney pursuit, the George decision, the Wilson interest – all of it suddenly has a different context if Ndiaye’s money is coming in.

Clubs that handle these scenarios well are the ones that accept the situation early and plan around it rather than hoping it resolves itself. Everton need to decide – quickly – whether they are genuinely fighting to keep Ndiaye or preparing to spend his fee wisely.

Because right now it is starting to look like the latter.