Arsenal have made an enquiry about Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye as Al Hilal face growing competition for one of their main attacking targets in the current summer transfer window.
The English club are considering a number of attacking options before the transfer market closes and have sought information about Ndiaye’s situation, according to British journalist Ben Jacobs.
Ndiaye is understood to be admired by Arsenal officials, while his name has also been strongly linked with a move to Al Hilal. The Saudi Arabian club are looking to strengthen their attacking wide areas at the request of their coaching staff.
The interest in the Senegal international intensified after he rejected an offer from Everton to renew his contract. That decision has increased the possibility of a departure in the coming period and encouraged several clubs to explore the possibility of signing him.
Ndiaye is valued at about £75m, a figure that could make the transfer one of the most significant financial moves of the current window. If Arsenal and Al Hilal pursue the deal directly, the eventual fee would underline the scale of the competition for his signature.
For Al Hilal, the challenge is not limited to matching Arsenal’s interest or negotiating the asking price. Ndiaye has previously made clear that he wants to play in the Champions League, a preference that could give Arsenal a sporting advantage in discussions.
That ambition may make the English club’s proposal particularly attractive, even if Al Hilal are able to present a strong financial package. The Saudi Arabian side would therefore need to convince Ndiaye of the sporting value of their project as well as the terms of any contract.
Arsenal’s enquiry does not mean a transfer has been agreed or that negotiations are at an advanced stage. It does, however, place the club among the contenders for a player whose future has become increasingly uncertain since he turned down Everton’s renewal offer.
Al Hilal had been pursuing Ndiaye as part of their plans to reinforce the attacking wing position, but Arsenal’s involvement could change the balance of the race. The London club’s interest gives the Senegalese player another possible route, while his stated desire to compete in the Champions League creates an important factor in deciding his next destination.
With the transfer window approaching its conclusion, Ndiaye’s estimated £75m value and the contrasting appeal of Arsenal and Al Hilal could make his situation one of the most closely watched attacking deals of the summer.
