Ndiaye pursuit hits wall as £75m price tag opens door for Al-Hilal

Manchester United's attempt to add a new left-sided attacker has hit a serious obstacle, with Everton demanding around £75m for Iliman Ndiaye and Al-Hilal already moving swiftly to exploit the situation. The Senegal international has long been on United's radar because of his ability to carry the ball, beat defenders and operate across several attacking positions. Yet the Old Trafford hierarchy now face a stark choice between paying a heavily inflated fee or walking away entirely.

Al-Hilal are preparing an opening proposal worth roughly €60m, but Everton consider that figure well short of their valuation. The Saudi club are nevertheless better placed than United to satisfy both the transfer fee and the player's wage expectations, giving them a clear advantage in the race. Ndiaye remains protected by a long contract at Goodison Park, which means Everton are under no immediate pressure to sell unless their asking price is met.

The setback is particularly damaging for United because Ndiaye offers exactly the profile their attack has been missing. He can start from the left, drift infield and create chances through individual skill rather than relying entirely on structured possession. Latest news from the club suggests Michael Carrick's side have already strengthened midfield by signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but their summer rebuild still lacks an unpredictable forward capable of changing a match on his own.

Interest from Aston Villa, along with monitoring from Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham, could make the situation even harder. Having several possible buyers gives Everton multiple exit routes and reduces any pressure to negotiate with United. Ndiaye's teammate Vitalii Mykolenko has described him as the most skilful player in the Premier League, and that reputation is now attracting serious financial muscle from the Gulf.

Everton's own interest in Jamie Leweling suggests they are preparing for a possible departure, but that does not mean they will offer United any discount. Unless Ndiaye strongly prioritises staying in England, Al-Hilal's financial superiority could end United's hopes before they have even made a formal bid. United therefore face a difficult decision: accelerate their pursuit and risk overpaying, or move quickly to an alternative before another target disappears.

Walking away at more than £70m may be financially sensible, but missing out would still expose a weakness in United's window. Tielemans and Santos have improved the centre of the pitch, yet the squad remains short of a wide attacker who can beat opponents one on one. With the transfer window gathering pace, United must now weigh up whether Ndiaye is worth a club-record outlay or whether their attention should shift elsewhere.