With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Premier League clubs are racing to complete business, and nowhere is the tension more evident than at Everton, where David Moyes has found himself addressing Manchester City's reported interest in Iliman Ndiaye.
The Everton manager made clear he has no appetite for losing one of his most influential players at this stage of the window, stressing that any incoming funds would arrive too late to be reinvested effectively. "I think it would be very difficult to get it reinvested if anything came in, we are getting into a really late period now," Moyes said. On the prospect of a City bid specifically, he added: "I'm certainly not encouraging a bid. I'm not encouraging that in a million years. I don't know if it would be too tight for time. Deals and contracts are taking much longer now. There seems to be a lot more involved."
Ndiaye, who has three years left on his contract, turned down extension offers last season that lacked a Champions League release clause. Everton's priorities remain elsewhere, however, with Moyes determined to land a right-back and a forward before Tuesday's cut-off. "We're 100% trying to get a right-back and we will try and do that right up until the end of the window," he said. The club also retains interest in City's Jack Grealish, who spent last season on loan at Goodison Park. Moyes pushed back gently on chief executive Angus Kinnear's suggestion that Everton should be targeting European qualification this season, noting the squad still needs "a lot of work" to reach that level, though he acknowledged the strong start gives cause for optimism.
Elsewhere, Sunderland's return to European competition has stirred plenty of emotion on Wearside. Régis Le Bris relished the news that his side's Europa League campaign will begin with a trip to face Milan at San Siro, a fixture that carries symbolic weight given Newcastle supporters' long-running "You'll never see a Mackem in Milan" taunts. "To get back in Europe with this fixture, it's a symbol," Le Bris said. "It's iconic. Milan is a massive club and it's a massive story." The Black Cats, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, will also face AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, Levski Sofia and Jagiellonia at home, and Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense away. Le Bris also welcomed news that goalkeeper Robin Roefs, winger Romaine Mundle and striker Wilson Isidor have all signed new long-term deals, and said he remains confident in the club's pursuit of further signings, including a right winger and a striker.
At Newcastle, head coach Matthias Jaissle gave an enthusiastic assessment of new signing Nico González, who could make his debut against Tottenham after a move from Manchester City worth up to £52m. "He trained with us and he looks sharp," Jaissle said, adding that González possesses "huge potential" and should adapt quickly. Newcastle are also being linked with Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo as the club looks to strengthen further before the deadline.
At the City Ground, Oliver Glasner confirmed Nottingham Forest expect to add two more players following the club-record £45m signing of striker Liam Delap from Chelsea, though his focus remains on Saturday's trip to Liverpool. Meanwhile, Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil said the newly-promoted club, who this week signed Argentine World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios, are still working on further additions, including a possible loan move for Tammy Abraham, ahead of their trip to Manchester United. At Old Trafford, Michael Carrick confirmed new midfield signing Carlos Baleba will be sidelined for around three weeks with an ankle injury sustained before his £70m move from Brighton was completed.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.