Tottenham shift focus to a ‘more realistic’ £60m target following a surprise development in Morgan Rogers’ contract situation.

Several reports indicated that Tottenham had been prepared to spend heavily on Morgan Rogers since the summer transfer window, though a deal for the Aston Villa forward was always seen as complicated. There had been talk of Spurs revisiting the move in January, but those rumours have now been silenced following the latest development surrounding the England international.

According to The Athletic, the 23-year-old has agreed a new long-term contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2031. It didn’t take long for Tottenham to switch their attention elsewhere, with Iliman Ndiaye emerging as their next major target.

Journalist Dean Jones revealed that the news of Rogers’ renewal was a setback for Tottenham, who had viewed the Villa attacker as a key signing to underline their ambition under Thomas Frank. He explained that the North London club have now turned their focus to Ndiaye, who has impressed since joining Everton from Marseille in the summer of 2024.

Jones told TEAMtalk: “Friday wasn’t great for Tottenham in terms of transfer updates, as two of the players they admire in the Premier League seem unattainable for now. They always knew Rogers would be a difficult signing, but Spurs remain determined to show real ambition moving forward. They came close to initiating late talks for him in the summer, but decided it wasn’t worth pursuing at that time. Now, with his new deal confirmed, he’s off the table as a target. Still, Ndiaye has come onto their radar as a potentially more attainable option.”

As for Ndiaye’s availability, reports in recent weeks suggest Tottenham would need to pay over £60 million to persuade Everton to sell the Senegal international. They are also expected to face strong competition from Newcastle United, Juventus, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid.

Jones added: “If Everton’s season doesn’t go as planned, Tottenham could view Ndiaye as a realistic option. Spurs have been refining their shortlist in recent weeks, and Ndiaye’s energy and creativity fit the profile of player they’re looking for. David Moyes has dismissed the rumours for now, but it’s certainly a situation worth monitoring.”