Liverpool resolve forces Man City into £65m Ndiaye agreement
Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, but the £65 million deal also tells a significant story about Liverpool and Cody Gakpo.
According to original reporting by David Ornstein in The Athletic, Man City are finalising an agreement worth an initial £60 million, with a further £5 million potentially payable through add-ons. Ndiaye is expected to undergo his medical on Tuesday morning before completing the move.
For Liverpool, however, the more consequential detail is why City turned decisively towards the Everton forward. Their interest in Ndiaye accelerated after the Premier League champions failed to prise Gakpo away from Anfield.
City had submitted an offer worth up to £80 million for the Netherlands international. Liverpool rejected it, despite suggestions that Gakpo was open to making the move. The Merseyside club’s position was ultimately governed by sporting necessity. With insufficient time to secure a suitable replacement, sanctioning the departure of an important and versatile attacker would have created an avoidable weakness.
That refusal left Man City needing an alternative. Ndiaye, already admired by their recruitment department, became the most accessible solution.
Liverpool place sporting needs above £80m windfall
An £80 million proposal would test almost any club, particularly for a player who has not always been guaranteed a starting place. Liverpool’s response nevertheless underlines Gakpo’s growing importance within the squad.
His value cannot be measured solely through goals and assists. Gakpo can operate from the left, lead the attack or move into central areas, giving Liverpool tactical flexibility across a demanding season. Removing that adaptability without a replacement would have left the club exposed.
There was also little incentive for Liverpool to strengthen Man City directly. Selling a proven Premier League forward to a domestic rival would have carried consequences beyond the transfer fee. City would have obtained a player already accustomed to English football, while Liverpool would have entered the market under pressure and with selling clubs fully aware of their sudden need.
Keeping Gakpo therefore represents more than a rejected bid. It is a statement that Liverpool’s footballing priorities remain more important than the appeal of a substantial short-term profit.
City’s subsequent agreement for Ndiaye reinforces the wisdom of that stance. Liverpool did not merely retain one of their own attackers. They forced a major rival to change direction and invest heavily elsewhere.
Ndiaye becomes City’s rapid alternative
Ndiaye had appeared destined for Tottenham Hotspur after Spurs and Everton reached an agreement in principle over the weekend. A separate arrangement was also discussed that would have taken Richarlison back to Everton.
That complicated sequence failed to reach a conclusion, reopening the door for Man City. Having sold Savinho and Omar Marmoush, City needed to add another forward before the transfer window closed. Once Gakpo was unavailable, their interest in Ndiaye was revived with considerable speed.
The Senegal international offers qualities that should translate effectively to City’s system. He carries the ball confidently, creates opportunities and provides the kind of energetic defensive work increasingly demanded from modern wide players. His profile may be less glamorous than some of City’s previous attacking acquisitions, but his Premier League experience reduces the uncertainty surrounding the deal.
Ndiaye joined Everton from Marseille for £15 million in 2024 and has since recorded 17 goals and four assists in 73 appearances. He also started Everton’s opening three matches of the new campaign, registering an assist against Crystal Palace.
Everton will make an enormous return on their investment if the agreement is completed. Ndiaye had rejected multiple offers of a new contract, although three years remained on his existing deal. Club sources have maintained that he behaved professionally throughout the summer.
Man City outcome highlights Gakpo’s Liverpool value
From a Liverpool perspective, City’s £65 million Ndiaye agreement provides an intriguing measure of Gakpo’s standing. Man City were willing to go considerably higher for the Dutchman, suggesting he had emerged as their preferred option rather than one name on an extensive list.
Liverpool’s inability to find a replacement was reportedly central to their decision, but that should not be mistaken for indecision. Recruitment is not simply about accepting an attractive price. Timing, squad balance and the identity of the buying club all matter.
Gakpo remaining at Anfield preserves Liverpool’s attacking depth and prevents a direct rival from acquiring a player capable of making an immediate impact. It also avoids the disruption that would have followed a major late-window departure.
Ndiaye may still prove to be an astute signing for Man City. His Everton performances have demonstrated imagination, resilience and an ability to influence matches from several attacking positions. Yet the route that carried him towards Manchester began with Liverpool refusing to compromise.
City have secured their alternative, Everton are poised to receive a transformative fee, and Ndiaye has earned an opportunity at one of England’s most powerful clubs. Liverpool, meanwhile, have kept Gakpo. In a transfer market often reduced to numbers, that may be the most important outcome of all.
