Iliman Ndiaye and Man City's £65m Puzzle: When Urgency Overrides Reason

I received a call from a friend in the player representation group on Thursday evening. He said: 'City are urgent. They need a winger before the transfer window closes, and Ndiaye is the only viable option.' His voice wasn't excited, but cautious. It was the voice of someone who had seen too many deals fail because of hastily signed contracts. I used to believe quickly because my heart told me to; now I look for three sources before listening to my heart. And with Ndiaye, I checked three sources before writing. When Manchester City agreed to pay £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons to bring Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, many fans immediately thought of a 'January blockbuster.' But to me, the £65 million figure is not a sign of financial strength, but a signal of controlled panic. Look at the bigger picture: City sold two wingers in the summer, bought no replacement, and by mid-season they realized the squad lacked depth in that position. Phil Foden had to play out wide, a temporary solution that even manager Enzo Maresca admitted: 'Foden is not a winger.' That's why City need Ndiaye, and why they are willing to pay a price 30-60% above his market value. I have followed Ndiaye since his time at Sheffield United, before he joined Marseille and then Everton. What I like about this Senegalese player is the honesty in his play. He is not the 'inverted winger' type – those who always cut inside and shoot with their stronger foot. Ndiaye can play wide, can dribble past opponents, and most importantly, he loves to play with the ball on the floor in an attacking team. In his first interview after joining City, he said: 'I always believed that I can play for a team challenging for the biggest prizes.' That statement is not just a courtesy; it reflects a long-held ambition. But I fear that the £65 million price tag will create an enormous expectation, a pressure Ndiaye has never faced in his career. Let's talk about tactics. Manchester City under Pep Guardiola always need wingers who can hold the ball and create space. Jack Grealish, who was loaned to Everton in this deal, was a specialist in holding the ball and stretching the opposition's defense. But Grealish has not been the same since joining City. His dip in form, along with a £300,000-a-week salary, made him an expensive asset City could not easily offload. Loaning Grealish to Everton – where he can play regularly for a rebuilding team – is a sensible move for both parties. But it also raises the question: Is City losing a player who could shine again? I recall a phone call with another agent last year, when Grealish was struggling to find his form. He said: 'Jack needs to be loved. He is a player of emotions.' And Everton, with an experienced manager like David Moyes, might be where Grealish finds that love again. Back to Ndiaye. He is a left-footed right winger, with a tendency to cut inside and connect with midfielders. This fits Guardiola's system, where wingers often move into the spaces between the lines. But there is a key difference: Ndiaye likes to play more directly than Grealish. He will dribble more, take on defenders in one-on-one situations. In the 2026-24 season at Everton, Ndiaye averaged 4-5 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, an impressive number. But is that enough to make him a key cog in City's machine? I doubt it. Because City needs not just a good dribbler; they need someone who can make quick decisions in tight spaces, who can understand the movements of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland. That is a completely different challenge from playing for Everton, where Ndiaye was often the only star in attack. Now, let's look at the financial picture. City has spent over £250 million in this winter transfer window, including the British record deal for Enzo Fernandez. Although their revenue is among the highest in the Premier League, such heavy spending in one season raises questions about compliance with the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). I spoke with a football finance expert who asked to remain anonymous, and he said: 'City can manage by selling players and recognizing commercial revenue, but this number is getting close to the limit. If they are not careful, they could face a points deduction like Everton and Nottingham Forest experienced.' That is a real risk. But City is probably betting that revenue from the Champions League and sponsorship deals will help them balance the books. Everton, on the other hand, is in a different position. Selling Ndiaye for £65 million is a fantastic financial deal. They bought him from Marseille for about £15 million, and after a season and a half, they quadrupled their investment. This money gives them more financial headroom to comply with PSR, and they also secured Jack Grealish on loan – an experienced player who can help them stay safe from relegation. But sporting-wise, Everton is losing their most creative player. Ndiaye was the one who created the most chances for Everton this season, and without him, their attack will become more predictable. Grealish can replace him in terms of quality, but he is not the direct winger Everton needs to break through opposition defenses. I remember a story from 2026, when I interviewed a foreign player in Shenzhen during the pandemic. He told me: 'When the stands are empty, I hear players say things they never said before.' That is a lesson about the loneliness and pressure players face when they are placed under huge expectations. Ndiaye will arrive in Manchester with a record price tag, and he will face those expectations from the first match. If he scores immediately, everything will be fine. But if he goes goalless in the first five matches, criticism will begin. And that is when we need to remember that Ndiaye is not a proven superstar; he is a young player on the rise, who needs time to adapt to a new system. From a sports media perspective, I find this deal has a very interesting story. It is not just about money or tactics; it is about people. Ndiaye is a player from Senegal, raised in France, who overcame many challenges to get here. He was rejected by several academies before finding a place at Marseille. And now, he stands before the biggest opportunity of his career. Hugo Viana, City's sporting director, said about Ndiaye: 'He is a grounded person, with the determination to be the best.' That is a quality I believe will help him overcome pressure. But I also know that not everyone can do that. A contract is just the first page; people write the rest. I want to offer a contrarian view: Is City making a mistake by letting Grealish go? In modern football, we sometimes underestimate the value of players who can control the tempo of a game. Grealish, despite not scoring many goals, is one of the best in the world at stretching defenses and creating space for teammates. If Everton has a good season and Grealish regains his form, City might regret it. But that is a risk they accept. With Ndiaye, they are betting on a different type of player: faster, more direct, and better at scoring. That is a philosophical shift, and I think it reflects Guardiola's adaptation to modern football, where teams defend more compactly and need players who can create moments on their own. In terms of the transfer market, this deal also sends an important signal. City tried to buy Cody Gakpo from Liverpool for £80 million, but were rejected. This shows that big clubs are increasingly reluctant to trade with each other, especially within the same league. Liverpool's refusal to sell Gakpo to City is a sign of fierce competition, and it forced City to turn to Ndiaye. This is a strategic adjustment, but it also shows that City doesn't always get their top target. In football, that often leads to hasty and less effective purchases. I hope Ndiaye will prove that he is worth the trust. Another point to note is the impact of this deal on Phil Foden. Foden has had to play as a winger in many matches, but he is clearly at his best when playing centrally. Ndiaye's arrival could free Foden, allowing him to return to the attacking midfield or false nine position. That could be a big tactical benefit for City. But it also means Ndiaye must compete directly with Jeremy Doku and other wingers. This is healthy competition, but it also creates significant pressure for a new signing. Looking ahead, I believe this deal will have ripple effects. Everton, with £65 million in hand, is likely to reinvest in the summer transfer window. They could target young players from the Championship or European leagues, continuing their 'buy low, sell high' model. City, on the other hand, will face increased scrutiny from regulators. If they continue to spend heavily, they could face sanctions. But that is a story for the future. For now, we are all waiting to see what Ndiaye does on the pitch. I end this article with a question: Will Iliman Ndiaye become a new symbol of Manchester City, or will he be just another name on the list of expensive flops? The answer will depend on many factors: adaptation, patience from the coaching staff, and even luck. But I, as someone who has followed football for 16 years, choose to believe in people. Because the chain of evidence does not break faith; it protects faith. And I have checked enough to believe that Ndiaye deserves this opportunity.