Arsenal are reportedly in a fierce battle to sign Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, as per Caught Offside.
Although the Gunners won the Premier League title last term, they struggled to score goals from open play. As a result, it appears they have prioritised revamping the frontline this summer.
Following Leandro Trossard’s departure, Mikel Arteta’s side have purchased Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. However, Arsenal reportedly want a new marquee left-winger before the start of next season.
Initially, they wanted to purchase Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but Chelsea have managed to win the race. In recent times, Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
However, Caught Offside claim that Arsenal are also interested in Ndiaye and have been monitoring his situation.
The Gunners aren’t the only club in this race as Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham are also plotting a swoop. However, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are currently the frontrunners in this race.
They are preparing to launch a formal proposal worth around £51m, but Everton have no intention of letting him leave for anything less than £75m, with his existing deal set to run until 2029.
Ndiaye to Arsenal
Ndiaye is a right-footed left-winger by trait but is also comfortable on the opposite side. He is quick, strong, technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, and also works hard without possession.
The 26-year-old netted 11 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign. Last season, he made nine goal contributions in 32 league matches.
He is a Premier League-proven player and is currently at the prime stage of his career. So, he would be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal should they purchase him.
Apart from Tzolis, Arsenal currently have Gabriel Martinelli as an option to deploy on the left flank. Moreover, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke can provide cover in this position if needed. However, Eze is more comfortable centrally, while Madueke is a right-winger by trait.
It is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually make a concrete approach to secure Ndiaye’s services during this offseason.
