Teamwork makes the dream work

Spurs can neglect Gakpo by sealing £60m switch

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In case you thought Tottenham Hotspur had been accomplished after the arrivals of Omar Marmoush and Savio then suppose once more.

There has by no means been a uninteresting second at Spurs this summer time and that pattern is continuous as we attain the ultimate 24 hours of the switch window.

Motion Photos by way of Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Iliman Ndiaye is the most recent identify linked with a big-money transfer to north London. An settlement is in place to signal the Everton ahead however it’s not accomplished simply but.

Why Spurs need to signal Ndiaye over Gakpo

The plan for Spurs has all the time been to signal three new forwards however after Marmoush and Savinho, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was alleged to be subsequent.

This was going to be certainly one of their most spectacular strikes if they may get a deal accomplished. Premier League confirmed, in his prime at 27 and a daily scorer – he netted 18 in all competitions in 2024/25 – he may have added an important deal to Roberto De Zerbi’s assault.

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Alas, he’s sure for Manchester Metropolis, offering the Reds are capable of entice yet another ahead to Anfield earlier than the switch window slams shut on Tuesday. Spurs had agreed private phrases with the Netherlands star however Metropolis got here ahead and he’d moderately be a part of them. Who can blame him?

Spurs have provide you with an answer swiftly. Ndiaye is their main different.

The Toffees ahead will not be as ruthless in entrance of objective as Gakpo, discovering the online simply six instances in 2025/26, however he is among the most fascinating attackers within the Premier League.

Certainly, Ndiaye ranked among the many most interesting 13% of wingers in Europe’s high 5 leagues for profitable dribbles per 90 minutes final season. Solely Jeremy Doku with 77 dribbles managed greater than the Senegalese’s tally of 70 throughout the Premier League final time period.

Most dribbles in Europe’s large leagues – 2025/26

Participant

Dribble tally

1) Lamine Yamal

127

2) Yan Diomande

115

3) Vinicius Junior

85

4) Kenan Yildiz

78

5) Jeremy Doku

77

6) Kylian Mbappe

73

7) Iliman Ndiaye

70

8) Yann Gboho

70

9) Victor Munoz

69

10) Antonio Nusa

68

That stated, Gakpo and Ndiaye do rank moderately intently for numerous different essential metrics. Gakpo accomplished 3.18 progressive carries per 90 final season to Ndiaye’s 2.97.

For probability creation, they’re additionally alike. The Everton star created 0.23 large probabilities from open play in 2025/26, whereas Gakpo created 0.29. When it got here to anticipated assists per 90, they generated an an identical quantity with 0.14.

Ndiaye-Dewsbury-Hall-Everton Reuters/Lee Smith

So, if Ndiaye can discover a method to rating extra objectives, this will probably be an excellent signing. Will or not it’s the final one for De Zerbi, although? Maybe not.

Spurs maintain talks to signal new winger who’s like Gakpo

With three late signings, Spurs are set to show their assault from a laboured and sluggish trying trio to a fast-paced motion packed one.

Savio will convey the creativity and the dynamism from the suitable, Marmoush will convey the objectives from a central space and Ndiaye will convey the methods from the left.

Savinho-Savio-Spurs Motion Photos by way of Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Nonetheless, if that transfer for Ndiaye doesn’t undergo, who may they flip to? Nicely, Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is creating some hype within the last days of the market.

Newcastle have been in talks to signal the Belgian whereas Arsenal have additionally explored a transfer. But, in accordance with TEAMtalk, Tottenham have additionally been on the desk to accumulate the 21-year-old. They’re certainly one of two golf equipment, together with Liverpool, to have held current talks with Lille to debate the phrases of a deal.

Valued at round £60m, he may price the identical quantity as Ndiaye and whereas he could also be a much less confirmed and rawer proposition, he would nonetheless be a really eye-catching addition.

Final time period, Fernandez-Pardo demonstrated that he is among the most enjoyable younger attackers in French soccer, scoring eight objectives and supplying seven assists throughout all competitions.

Apparently, he is additionally moderately just like the aforementioned Gakpo. Just like the Dutchman, he’s able to enjoying on the left or proper flanks, in addition to enjoying as a striker. It was in a central place that the teen really dazzled essentially the most final time period. Seven of his objectives got here from that position.

However, how else is he just like Gakpo? Nicely, we have crunched the numbers for you.

Fernandez-Pardo vs Gakpo: 2025/26 league stats

Stats (per 90 minutes)

Gakpo

Pardo

Non-penalty objectives

0.23

0.23

Photographs

2.85

2.57

Open play anticipated assists

0.14

0.18

Open play large probabilities created

0.29

0.19

Profitable dribbles

1.11

1.36

Progressive carries

3.18

3.82

Progressive passes

2.00

1.89

Anticipated risk in construct up

0.33

0.36

So, based mostly on final season’s figures, Pardo and Gakpo had been an identical when it got here to non-penalty objectives per 90 minutes. In numerous different metrics, they had been additionally very intently ranked.

A very powerful numbers to deal with listed here are open play anticipated assists, their progressive figures and their anticipated risk.

Anticipated Menace (xT) is a metric that quantifies how a lot a participant’s actions (like a go or carry) improve their staff’s chance of scoring.

In the case of progressive carrying and passing, there’s not a lot to seperate between the 2. What each gamers will assure is an efficient, environment friendly and swift approach of getting up the pitch.

For Spurs, that is precisely what they want proper now, notably after signing a brand new ahead in Marmoush, who will probably be desperate to hit the bottom operating in Tottenham colors.

matias-fernandez-pardo-lille-ligue-1

Pardo’s anticipated risk within the build-up phases of play can also be eye-catching. On this division, he ranks among the many high 45% of wingers in Europe’s high 5 leagues.

Certain, he will not be the completed product simply but however given his age, he’s very environment friendly already, extra so than the underwhelming Mathys Tel who’s but to registed a objective involvement in Spurs’ first two Premier League video games.