Manchester City have agreed a £60m deal with Everton to buy Iliman Ndiaye.
City put in a bid for the Senegal international after Liverpool rebuffed an approach for Cody Gakpo, deciding it gave them too little time to find a replacement.
And they look set to land the Tottenham target with an offer that could rise by another £5m in add-ons.
Ndiaye is set to become the second winger signed by City in the last two days of the transfer window, after Allan Elias completed his £32m move from Palmeiras.
His arrival would take City’s summer spending past £300m in a window when they have paid a club record £116m for Elliot Anderson and £85m for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Ndiaye rejected multiple offers for a new contract from Everton, who were keen to extend his stay on Merseyside.
But his sale could allow Everton to spend on deadline day. They have advanced in talks with City to bring back Jack Grealish, who was on loan at Hill Dickinson Stadium last season.
They are also closing in on Kenny Tete from Fulham, as they look to end their long search for a right-back.
They have opened talks with Monaco over Folarin Balogun and have discussed a move for Richarlison with Tottenham, while they could allow Beto to join Fiorentina.
Richarlison could have been included in a deal to get Ndiaye to Tottenham, and after being left out of the matchday squad for Spurs’ 2-0 home loss to Newcastle, which Roberto De Zerbi claimed was because “too many times he asked to leave”, the Brazil forward has spoken of “turmoil” on social media.
“After everything I’ve been through in the last few years, I’ve decided that never again will anyone decide my future for me,” Richarlison said on Instagram.
“I went through a lot of bad things, and almost all of them happened because decisions were made by other people. Pressure, threats, retaliation – none of that scares me. I’ve been through far worse, believe me.
“I’ve always made it clear, every time I had the chance, that leaving for another club would only happen if it was also good for the club. If it wasn’t, I would never accept it. Just like I didn’t accept it when everything was going badly and they needed me.
“I stayed and gave everything. So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect I’ve always shown Spurs and everyone who worked with me during this period. Just don’t try to decide for me.
“If they reach an agreement between Spurs and Everton, I will return to my beloved club. My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted, and it will no longer be like that.
“Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club’s disposal.”
