Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have opened negotiations over a pair of deals that could see Iliman Ndiaye move to north London while Richarlison returns to Goodison Park, according to reports.
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is pushing to reshape his attacking options after his side began the Premier League campaign with two goalless defeats. Tottenham have already been busy in the market this summer, agreeing a deal worth at least £75million, potentially rising to £85million, for Savio, and converting a loan arrangement for Omar Marmoush into a £60million permanent transfer from Manchester City.
Ndiaye is now understood to be the next name on De Zerbi's list. The Senegal international has been a key figure for Everton since joining from Marseille for around £15million two years ago, netting 15 Premier League goals in that spell. Should Tottenham complete both the Marmoush and Ndiaye deals, their total outlay for the summer window would surpass £400million.
Ndiaye's situation at Everton has grown increasingly uncertain after he turned down several contract extension offers from the club. Manchester City had also monitored the forward, though they have since turned their attention elsewhere, making contact with Liverpool over a possible move for Cody Gakpo.
On the other side of the proposed exchange, Richarlison is being discussed as a target for a return to Everton, the club where he first established himself as one of the Premier League's most eye-catching forwards before his £60million transfer to Tottenham in 2022 - a sale that helped Everton navigate Financial Fair Play concerns at the time. The Brazilian scored 53 goals in four seasons on Merseyside and has added 32 more in 134 appearances during his time in London.
Sources indicate the two potential transfers are being negotiated separately rather than as a direct swap package, though the timing and mutual interest between the clubs have fuelled speculation of a broader arrangement.
Everton have already engineered one swap this summer, bringing in Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace as Dwight McNeil departed for Selhurst Park in the opposite direction. The Merseyside club could face further squad disruption, with young midfielder Harrison Armstrong drawing interest from Nottingham Forest.
Everton manager David Moyes addressed the pressure surrounding his squad following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, making clear his reluctance to sanction further departures.
"I don't think we can afford to lose any players, certainly not our better ones," Moyes said. "The club dictates a lot of that."
His comments underline the tension between Everton's ambitions on the pitch and the financial realities that continue to shape their transfer business. Ndiaye's potential exit would represent a significant loss of attacking quality, even as the club looks to bring back a familiar face in Richarlison, who remains fondly remembered by supporters for his goalscoring exploits before his move to Tottenham three years ago.
With the transfer window edging toward its climax, both Tottenham and Everton appear to be working through the finer details of deals that could reshape their forward lines heading into the new season. Neither club has yet confirmed the terms or timeline for any agreement, but the level of contact between the two parties suggests further announcements could follow in the coming days.
Based on reporting from The Independent.