Iliman Ndiaye has revealed he 'don't say no' when Manchester City come calling, explaining his £60m move from Everton was always the right choice. The 26-year-old nearly joined Tottenham but the deal collapsed after they failed to sell Richarlison. 'There was no stress or panicking,' Ndiaye said. 'I was just being patient and when City came through I was buzzing. It was always going to be City.' He was immediately thrown into Everton's starting XI for their 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry.

Ndiaye emphasised his desire to play Champions League football, stating: 'When Manchester City comes through you don't say no.' Despite Everton's bottom-half finish during his two seasons, he became a fans' favourite with 17 goals and a strong connection with supporters. 'When I was speaking with my wife, I was telling her that if I had to leave Everton it would be somewhere where I know I would be playing Champions League,' he explained. 'It was difficult to leave Everton. I created a great connection with the fans and the players there, but we have to move on sometimes and it's how football is.'.