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Don't panic: Spurs have already signed an upgrade on Iliman Ndiaye

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Published Sep 4, 2026, 6:15 AM GMT+1

Robbie is the Assistant Editor at Football FanCast, specialising in football analysis, transfer coverage and feature writing, with particular expertise in Manchester United, Celtic, Rangers and the wider Premier League and Scottish football.

A sports journalist since graduating from the University of Exeter in 2020, Robbie has spent more than six years covering professional football across the Premier League, EFL, SPFL and European competitions. His career has included news and feature work for 90min and more than a year covering the Premier League and Manchester United in particular at Football Faithful.

Robbie joined Football FanCast through the site's academy programme in 2022, progressing to the Exclusives team before becoming Assistant Editor in October 2023. His work combines original reporting, transfer insight, football analysis and informed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the context behind the latest news and what developments mean for clubs, managers and players.

He has developed extensive knowledge of Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers through regular coverage, while also bringing a broad understanding of the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football. His experience covering the game extends beyond the page, with a long-standing connection to Wycombe Wanderers that has seen him attend home and away matches for more than two decades.

Through his reporting and analysis, Robbie provides readers with credible football insight, informed transfer assessment and detailed coverage that goes beyond the headline, drawing on years of experience following clubs and competitions at close range.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were certainly at the centre of a lot of the transfer action this summer, none more so than in the final few days of the window.

Having already shaken hands regarding the deals for Savio and Omar Marmoush to head to north London, the Premier League pair also appeared to be in the mix for the same new additions as the deadline approached.

At one stage it looked like City were ready to poach Cody Gakpo ahead of Spurs, only for the Dutchman to stay put at Anfield. An agreement then looked close for the Lilywhites to sign Iliman Ndiaye in a move involving Richarlison, albeit with the Etihad side striking a deal of their own late in the day.

Ndiaye, for a £65m fee, may well prove a steal for Enzo Maresca's side, but is this really an opportunity missed for Roberto De Zerbi and co?

Ndiaye's Premier League record leaves a lot to be desired

Heading to Manchester might well see Ndiaye explode under Maresca's watch; don't be surprised if it does.

In the view of ex-teammate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, he is "one of the best players in the league" in full flow, such a handful on either flank, be it as a creator or in one-versus-one situations.

His biggest strength lies with his dribbling prowess, having ranked second in the entire division in terms of total successful dribbles completed last term.

And yet, looking at the Senegalese star's actual record in the Premier League does raise eyebrows with regard to his lack of genuine end product, even if operating in a more conservative Everton side.

In all, he's made 68 appearances in the Premier League, one of which came previously at Sheffield United, yet has scored just 15 goals and contributed only four assists in that time.

Last term, for instance, he scored and assisted only nine league goals, despite starting 32 games for David Moyes' side. Indeed, you could argue he's not even the standout force at the Hill Dickinson, with the aforementioned Dewsbury-Hall contributing eight goals and four assists from a central midfield role.

Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the warm up before the match

Maybe City will turn the 26-year-old into a genuine superstar, yet for Spurs, they can look to the signings they've already made over the last 12 months or so instead.

Why Spurs have already signed an upgrade on Ndiaye

It's far too early to judge those who ENIC have signed this summer, with Marmoush showing flashes against Newcastle United, while Savio got off the mark on debut, albeit against Championship side, Charlton Athletic.

Perhaps it's even too soon to judge the attacking arrivals from last summer, considering their injury woes, although there is reason to be excited about the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus.

In Kudus' case, in particular, the Ghanaian looks like a genuine world-beater in full flow, arguably an even bigger talent than Ndiaye based on his time at Spurs and West Ham United so far.

Looking to his Premier League record, the left-footer has enjoyed a far more fruitful time of things than the new Man City playmaker, now up to 29 goal involvements from his 85 games in the competition.

It's worth noting too that there is almost an even split between his tally of goals (15) and assists (14), highlighting why there might even be a more complete feel to his game than Ndiaye.

Yes, his spell in north London hasn't really got going due to injury, but his time at the London Stadium offers a nice comparison to Ndiaye, particularly having worked in a Moyes team during his first year with the Hammers.

In that 2023/24 campaign, following his move from Ajax, Kudus scored eight and assisted six under the Scot's watch, eclipsing the best return in terms of goal involvements that Ndiaye has achieved at Everton in a single season (nine).

Kudus vs Ndiaye - Season Under Moyes

Kudus (23/24)

Stat (*per game)

Ndiaye (25/26)

33	Games	32
8	Goals	6
310	Mins per goal	464
4	Big chances missed	3
6	Assists	3
5	Big chances created	7
0.8	Key passes*	0.9
3.8	Succ. dribbles*	2.3
84%	Pass accuracy*	84%
2.3	Was fouled*	1.2
8.5	Total duels won*	6.0

Kudus, like Ndiaye, is another lightning-quick forward who can operate on either flank or in a number ten role too, such an asset when running at his man to his breathtaking blend of pace and power.

As a pure dribbler, he might well have the edge on Ndiaye in that regard, having averaged a staggering 3.8 successful dribbles in 2023/24, followed by an average of 2.9 and 2.7 in the following two seasons, respectively.

For comparison, while Ndiaye was a leading figure in the league in that regard last term, his average stood at just 2.3 across 2025/26, having been at just 2.1 the year prior.

It's easy to forget, considering he's barely been seen in 2026, just what Kudus offers at his best, with his return to full fitness potentially set to prove just as crucial as any new addition.

West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus celebrates

Ndiaye, considering the alternative appears to have been Mykhailo Mudryk, would have been a more than useful addition for De Zerbi, but in Kudus, the Lilywhites already have a Premier League upgrade.

He is, as journalist Gary Al-Smith noted, a "generational talent" after all.

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