If you thought Tottenham Hotspur were done after the arrivals of Omar Marmoush and Savio then think again.
There has never been a dull moment at Spurs this summer and that trend is continuing as we reach the final 24 hours of the transfer window.
Iliman Ndiaye is the latest name linked with a big-money move to north London. An agreement is in place to sign the Everton forward but it’s not done just yet.
Why Spurs want to sign Ndiaye over Gakpo
The plan for Spurs has always been to sign three new forwards but after Marmoush and Savinho, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was supposed to be next.
This was going to be one of their most impressive moves if they could get a deal done. Premier League proven, in his prime at 27 and a regular scorer – he netted 18 in all competitions in 2024/25 – he could have added a great deal to Roberto De Zerbi’s attack.
Alas, he is bound for Manchester City, providing the Reds are able to entice one more forward to Anfield before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday. Spurs had agreed personal terms with the Netherlands star but City came forward and he’d rather join them. Who can blame him?
Spurs have come up with a solution swiftly. Ndiaye is their leading alternative.
The Toffees forward may not be as ruthless in front of goal as Gakpo, finding the net just six times in 2025/26, but he is one of the most captivating attackers in the Premier League.
Indeed, Ndiaye ranked among the finest 13% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful dribbles per 90 minutes last season. Only Jeremy Doku with 77 dribbles managed more than the Senegalese’s tally of 70 across the Premier League last term.
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Most dribbles in Europe’s big leagues – 2025/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Dribble tally |
|
1) Lamine Yamal |
127 |
|
2) Yan Diomande |
115 |
|
3) Vinicius Junior |
85 |
|
4) Kenan Yildiz |
78 |
|
5) Jeremy Doku |
77 |
|
6) Kylian Mbappe |
73 |
|
7) Iliman Ndiaye |
70 |
|
8) Yann Gboho |
70 |
|
9) Victor Munoz |
69 |
|
10) Antonio Nusa |
68 |
That said, Gakpo and Ndiaye do rank rather closely for a number of other important metrics. Gakpo completed 3.18 progressive carries per 90 last season to Ndiaye’s 2.97.
For chance creation, they are also alike. The Everton star created 0.23 big chances from open play in 2025/26, while Gakpo created 0.29. When it came to expected assists per 90, they generated an identical volume with 0.14.
So, if Ndiaye can find a way to score more goals, this will be a brilliant signing. Will it be the last one for De Zerbi, though? Perhaps not.
Spurs hold talks to sign new winger who’s like Gakpo
With three late signings, Spurs are set to turn their attack from a laboured and slow looking trio to a fast-paced action packed one.
Savio will bring the creativity and the dynamism from the right, Marmoush will bring the goals from a central area and Ndiaye will bring the tricks from the left.
However, if that move for Ndiaye does not go through, who could they turn to? Well, Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is creating some hype in the final days of the market.
Newcastle have been in talks to sign the Belgian while Arsenal have also explored a move. Yet, according to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have also been at the table to acquire the 21-year-old. They are one of two clubs, including Liverpool, to have held recent talks with Lille to discuss the terms of a deal.
Valued at around £60m, he could cost the same amount as Ndiaye and while he may be a less proven and rawer proposition, he would still be a very eye-catching addition.
Last term, Fernandez-Pardo demonstrated that he is one of the most exciting young attackers in French football, scoring eight goals and supplying seven assists across all competitions.
Interestingly, he’s also rather similar to the aforementioned Gakpo. Like the Dutchman, he is capable of playing on the left or right flanks, as well as playing as a striker. It was in a central position that the youngster actually dazzled the most last term. Seven of his goals came from that role.
But, how else is he similar to Gakpo? Well, we’ve crunched the numbers for you.
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Fernandez-Pardo vs Gakpo: 2025/26 league stats |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 mins) |
Gakpo |
Pardo |
|
Non-penalty goals |
0.23 |
0.23 |
|
Shots |
2.85 |
2.57 |
|
Open play expected assists |
0.14 |
0.18 |
|
Open play big chances created |
0.29 |
0.19 |
|
Successful dribbles |
1.11 |
1.36 |
|
Progressive carries |
3.18 |
3.82 |
|
Progressive passes |
2.00 |
1.89 |
|
Expected threat in build up |
0.33 |
0.36 |
So, based on last season’s figures, Pardo and Gakpo were identical when it came to non-penalty goals per 90 minutes. In a number of other metrics, they were also very closely ranked.
The most important numbers to focus on here are open play expected assists, their progressive figures and their expected threat.
Expected Threat (xT) is a metric that quantifies how much a player’s actions (like a pass or carry) increase their team’s probability of scoring.
When it comes to progressive carrying and passing, there is not much to seperate between the two. What both players will guarantee is an effective, efficient and swift way of getting up the pitch.
For Spurs, that’s exactly what they need right now, particularly after signing a new forward in Marmoush, who will be eager to hit the ground running in Tottenham colours.
Pardo’s expected threat in the build-up phases of play is also eye-catching. In this department, he ranks among the top 45% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.
Sure, he may not be the finished product just yet but given his age, he is very efficient already, more so than the underwhelming Mathys Tel who is yet to registed a goal involvement in Spurs’ first two Premier League games.
