Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer activity shows no signs of slowing down, even as the final hours of the window approach on Tuesday.
The north London club has already brought in Omar Marmoush and Savio, but a third forward remains firmly on the agenda before the deadline.
Iliman Ndiaye of Everton is the name at the front of the queue, with an agreement reported to be in place, though the deal is not yet officially complete.
Spurs had originally set their sights on Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo as their third attacking addition, targeting a player who scored 18 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.
The 27-year-old Netherlands international would have been a statement signing, but Manchester City emerged as rivals and Gakpo chose the Etihad over a move to Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Ndiaye has quickly become the leading alternative, and while he managed only six goals in 2025/26, his dribbling output places him in elite company across European football.
Only Jeremy Doku, with 77 successful dribbles in the Premier League last season, surpassed Ndiaye’s tally of 70, with the Senegalese winger ranking among the finest 13% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues in that category.
The metrics between Ndiaye and Gakpo are also closer than many might expect, with both players generating 0.14 expected assists per 90 minutes and posting similar progressive carry figures of 2.97 and 3.18 respectively.
Should the Ndiaye deal fall through, Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo has emerged as another option, with Tottenham holding recent talks alongside Liverpool to discuss the terms of a potential deal, according to TEAMtalk.
The 21-year-old Belgian is valued at around £60m and produced eight goals and seven assists across all competitions for Lille last season, with seven of those goals coming from a central striking position.
His statistical profile draws genuine comparisons with Gakpo, as both players posted identical non-penalty goals per 90 at 0.23, while Fernandez-Pardo actually edged the Dutchman for successful dribbles, progressive carries, and expected threat in build-up play.
Fernandez-Pardo’s expected threat in build-up phases places him among the top 45% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, a strong return for a player still only 21 years of age.
His versatility is another selling point, capable of operating on either flank or through the middle, making him a flexible option for De Zerbi’s evolving system at Spurs.
Newcastle and Arsenal have also been credited with interest in Fernandez-Pardo, meaning Tottenham face genuine competition if they look to pivot toward the Lille attacker.
With Marmoush expected to lead the line and Savio providing dynamism from the right, the left-sided role is the one Spurs are prioritising in these final hours of the window.
Mathys Tel’s lack of a goal involvement in Spurs’ first two Premier League matches has added further urgency to the club’s pursuit of another attacking option before the window closes.