Manchester City gazump Spurs over Iliman Ndiaye and eye Enzo Fernández deal

Manchester City are poised to bolster their attack by buying Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye for up to £65m and have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign Enzo Fernández.

City’s hijack of Tottenham’s deal for Ndiaye came after their attempts to sign Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo broke down. The Senegal international is poised to undergo a medical after a fee of £60m plus £5m in add-ons was agreed with Everton, who have little time to find a replacement for one of their most important players before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday night.

It had seemed that Ndiaye would move to Spurs after they agreed a deal in principle with Everton on Sunday. Richarlison was poised to move in the opposite direction but that transfer stalled on Monday. Richarlison released an emotional statement on social media and said that he would not allow his future to be decided for him. The Brazilian is cool on a move to Everton and is expected to stay at Spurs.

City registered their interest in Ndiaye last week and moved in after Liverpool pulled out of an £85m deal for Gakpo. Spurs have moved on and agreed to sign Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea.

The Ukraine winger, who is free to play again after his doping ban was resolved this summer, played for Roberto De Zerbi at Shakhtar Donetsk and favoured a reunion with the Tottenham manager after Leeds and Brentford also contacted Chelsea about him.

Spurs have also agreed a deal to sign Chelsea’s defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a permanent deal.

Chelsea are poised for a busy end to the window and have finally been contacted by City about Fernández. The Argentina midfielder wants to leave and has his heart set on a move to City. Fernández has a close relationship with City’s manager, Enzo Maresca, who left Chelsea this year.

Chelsea set a price of £120m for Fernández this summer and may push for a higher fee with the deadline drawing close. Another consideration for the Stamford Bridge club as they face up to losing one of their biggest players is the need to improve their squad.

Chelsea have sounded out Roma’s Manu Koné and Monaco’s Lamine Camara as potential replacements for Fernández. They have been met with resistance in attempts to sign Bournemouth’s Alex Scott while Crystal Palace want to keep Adam Wharton. Chelsea are tracking Morgan Gibbs‑White but know Nottingham Forest are unlikely to sell at this stage.

The goalkeeper Robert Sánchez is poised to leave Chelsea as he nears a loan to Como. Sánchez lost the No 1 spot after Emiliano Martínez’s arrival.