Man City turn to Ndiaye after Liverpool block £80m Gakpo approach on deadline eve

Manchester City’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo has collapsed after Liverpool rejected a late-window approach for the £80m-rated Dutch winger, with City now threatening to hijack Tottenham’s move for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye before Tuesday’s deadline.

Liverpool’s decision to rebuff City’s interest centred on the difficulty of finding a replacement so close to the close of the window. Gakpo, who scored Liverpool’s first goal under manager Andoni Iraola and assisted Alexander Isak’s strike against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, is also considered a key figure in the dressing room — captain Virgil van Dijk publicly stated he wanted the winger to remain at the club.

With Gakpo off the table, City have turned their attention to Ndiaye, the Senegal international who had been Tottenham’s primary target heading into deadline day. Spurs proposed a deal that would include a return for Richarlison as part of the package, but City are now matching their financial terms and could offer Jack Grealish — who spent last season on loan at Goodison Park — as a makeweight, with Rico Lewis also mentioned in discussions. The emergence of City’s interest has introduced genuine doubt over whether Ndiaye will end up at Spurs before the window shuts.

City’s need for attacking reinforcements has grown after allowing both Savinho and Omar Marmoush to join Tottenham, while Grealish himself may yet return to Everton on a permanent or loan basis. The club did complete a £32m signing of Palmeiras winger Allan earlier in the window, but are seeking at least one further addition.

Liverpool, meanwhile, completed a £106m deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola on Monday as Iraola looks to build a squad with four wide options. Attempts to sign Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr have so far stalled, with both clubs reluctant to sell.