David Moyes unsettled by Manchester City interest in Iliman Ndiaye as transfer window edges to close
David Moyes said on 28 August 2026 that Manchester City’s interest in Iliman Ndiaye had unsettled him as Everton approached the closing stages of the Premier League transfer window, and warned the club did not have enough time to reinvest any money raised through player sales before the deadline. He said he remained determined to strengthen the squad and was prioritising a right-back ahead of Tuesday’s cut-off.
Moyes told reporters the squad required more work before it could realistically challenge for Europe and pushed back on recent optimism from the club’s chief executive. Angus Kinnear had claimed Everton were planning to challenge for Europe this season, but Moyes insisted the team needed “a lot of work” to reach that level. He noted Iliman Ndiaye has three years remaining on his contract and had turned down extension offers last season because they did not include a release clause for a Champions League club, and added that Manchester City had yet to make a bid.
On the practicalities of late-window sales, Moyes said: “I think it would be very difficult to get it reinvested if anything came in, we are getting into a really late period now.” On Ndiaye specifically he stated: “I’m certainly not encouraging a bid. I’m not encouraging that in a million years. I don’t know if it would be too tight for time. Deals and contracts are taking much longer now. There seems to be a lot more involved.” He also stressed Everton’s recruitment focus: “I’m saying there’s not much time but I’ll still try to see what we can do. I think we need to do much more if possible. We’re 100% trying to get a right-back and we will try and do that right up until the end of the window.”
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris described the club’s Europa League trip to Milan as “a symbol” of their progress after finishing seventh last season and beating Newcastle home and away. Le Bris said: “To get back in Europe with this fixture, it’s a symbol,” and added: “It’s iconic. Milan is a massive club and it’s a massive story.” He confirmed three players — goalkeeper Robin Roefs, winger Romaine Mundle and forward Wilson Isidor — had signed new long-term contracts and listed Sunderland’s group opponents at the Stadium of Light as AZ, Dinamo Zagreb, Levski Sofia and Jagiellonia, with away ties against Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense. Le Bris declined to comment on a reported loan approach for Jack Grealish and said Sunderland remain in the market for a right winger and a striker; the team are at home to Fulham on Sunday.
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle said new signing Nico González, who joined from Manchester City in a deal that could rise to £52m, “trained with us and he looks sharp” and could make his debut on Saturday at Tottenham. Jaissle warned adaptation would take time but praised the 24-year-old’s potential: “It will take time [to adapt] and I can not tell you how long it takes but he’s a smart player, he has huge potential and already brings so much quality in the squad. He will adapt fast into our way of playing and then we can enjoy.” Jaissle suggested further business was possible, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo tipped to move from Lille, and said: “The management and Ross [Wilson], the sporting director, they’re doing an amazing job, trying everything. We want to be smart, we don’t want to act in panic, so I’m really optimistic things will happen.”
Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the club expected more arrivals after completing the signing of striker Liam Delap from Chelsea for a club-record £45m on Thursday. Glasner said: “I think we will add two players,” adding: “One we have added, that means we will have at least one more signing. Close deals, quite close to be done, but now from today our focus is on the Liverpool match. That is the most important thing in the next 30 hours and then we have three more days to get the deals over the line.” Glasner would not comment on a reported £22m Forest offer for Daniel Muñoz and said of Delap’s move: “It is clear you have to look for a club where you have better chances to get minutes and reignite your career, and that is why we think we are the right club for him.” The club noted Delap had scored two goals in all competitions for Chelsea after moving from Ipswich and had been training away from the first team under Xabi Alonso.
Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil said the club were “hopefully not finished” in the transfer window after the arrival of Argentina international Exequiel Palacios on Thursday and ongoing talks over a potential season-long loan for Tammy Abraham. O’Neil told a press conference: “No, nothing to report on that [Abraham move]. We’re hopefully not finished. We’re still trying to do some business. As to who that is or what positions that will be in, there’s no update from me. We’re still working hard to try and improve the group, but my focus now is firmly on the game at the weekend and making sure that we’re fully prepared for what is going to be an incredibly tough test.” Palacios is set to make his debut, Florentino Luís could be involved at Old Trafford, and Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor remain sidelined.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick confirmed new signing Carlos Baleba, the 22-year-old completed from Brighton for £70m on Tuesday, will be absent for around three weeks with an ankle problem after arriving at Old Trafford injured. Jason Wilcox described Baleba as “an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further,” and Carrick said: “He’s got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, maybe three weeks. We’ll see but we knew that before, so it’s no major issue but it’ll be great to have him back when we can.” On other personnel, Carrick added: “It’s obviously new, the break to deal with, but we’ll wait and see. We’re hopeful but I don’t want to put any deadlines on it just yet. Amad won’t be involved this week. He’ll be out for a little bit longer. Mase [Mason Mount] is back around the group, which was great. Trained this week, so that’s a big positive for us.”
New signings and injury absences have immediate match implications: Newcastle could hand Nico González a debut at Tottenham on Saturday, Everton continue their search for a right-back up to Tuesday’s transfer deadline, Sunderland host Fulham on Sunday, and Manchester United face promoted Ipswich in a Premier League home opener on Sunday.