Africa's transfer deadline day - Ndiaye to Man City, Mbaye incoming, Osimhen to Man United?

It's already been a massive transfer window for African players, with the continent's stars involved in some of the biggest done deals and most compelling transfer rumours of the last months.

Tuesday is the final day of the window, but who else could get their move over the line before business concludes on Sept. 1?

Here are the African storylines to watch during the final day of the transfer window.

Africa's transfer window: The biggest deals so far

The biggest African deal of the window has been Yan Diomande's switch from RB Leipzig to Real Madrid for a reported €125 million, with the teenage wideman making the move to the Spanish capital after only one season in German football.

Despite Diomande's undisputed promise, it's a huge gamble for Real, who have committed a significant outlay for a player who remains rough around the edges.

The forward has to demonstrate that he can rise to the challenge of asserting himself in one of the most star-studded squads in world football.

Ayyoub Bouaddi was one of the revelations of the World Cup as he excelled in Morocco's midfield, having been - like Diomande - linked with many of Europe's biggest clubs.

The 18-year-old had already demonstrated in recent seasons for LOSC Lille that he's comfortable running midfield contests at the highest level, and his performances convinced Manchester City to part with €95m to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.

It's a massive transition for the France-born wonderkid, who will inevitably face comparisons with Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri, the player who he's replacing in the City midfield.

Another young CM, Carlos Baleba, has also sealed a big-money move, finally exiting Brighton & Hove Albion for Manchester United a year after he had initially appeared primed for a move to Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old was accused of allowing his standards to drop at Brighton amidst the disappointment of failing to secure a United move last year, and he must prove that he can raise his level again to take his part in the Red Devils rebuild.

Working under a former elite central midfielder in Michael Carrick - at least for as long as he remains in post - should help Baleba refine his game and realise his immense potential.

Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah's move to Trabzonspor, Mamadou Sangare's arrival at Brentford from Racing Club de Lens, and Ismael Saibari's transfer to Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven - midway through the World Cup - are some of the most intriguing deals of the window.

Omar Marmoush, Nicolas Jackson and Tolo Arokodare have put themselves on the comeback trail after signing for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Ajax respectively, with each looking to put a challenging period behind them.

It will be fascinating to see whether youngsters Bazoumana Touré, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ousmane Diomande, and Zadok Yohanna can manage the increased scrutiny and expectation after arriving in the Premier League.

Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City?

With several new contract proposals by Everton reportedly rejected by Ndiaye in recent months, the prospect of the playmaker leaving Merseyside has gone from faint whisper to full-blooded inevitability as the deadline approaches.

The 26-year-old is under contract until 2029, but with David Moyes needing to raise funds to finance a squad overhaul, and the player potentially increasingly seeing his future elsewhere, it appears a lucrative exit could be imminent.

Tottenham appeared as the player's likely next destination over the weekend, with rumours suggesting a swap deal involving Richarlison's return to Everton gathering momentum, even despite the extensive recruitment Spurs have already undertaken under Roberto De Zerbi since last season's great escape.

However, as we enter deadline day, it appears as though City have moved into pole position to sign the Senegal international, with The Athletic reporting that he's become their top target after Enzo Maresca's side failed in an approach for Cody Gakpo.

The deal is understood to be approaching €76 million including add-ons, with Ndiaye on the cusp of overtaking Jackson as the most expensive Senegalese player of all time.

The former Marseille man is expected to undergo a medical at City on Tuesday morning, ahead of a deal being confirmed, and it could represent a smart move for all parties.

Ndiaye gets the move to a Champions League contender that he craves, while the Sky Blues boast a player with the guile, trickery and ingenuity to unpick a deep defence or settle a contest with a moment of magic late on.

Despite the exits of Marmoush and Sávio, as well as the mooted departure of Jack Grealish, Ndiaye will face hefty competition for playing time at City, but he will likely have an ideal setting and context to challenge for the top honours in the game and - potentially - put himself in contention for the African Ballon d'Or.

What else is close to being confirmed?

Another big deal involving one of Senegal's World Cup stars is the move taking starlet Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain to Aston Villa.

The 18-year-old was present, sitting in the stands, for Villa's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in Birmingham on Monday night, watching on as his soon-to-be new teammates put up a decent fight against the reigning champions.

This one isn't yet fully ratified and confirmed by Villa, but expect confirmation on Tuesday, with the Europa League champions understood to be parting with €55m to sign the PSG academy product.

The European champions' extensive depth left Mbaye with an uphill struggle to get adequate minutes for his development, and he'll hope to have ample opportunity under Unai Emery to show what he can do.

The winger -- who scored a fine solo goal against France at the World Cup -- has undoubted natural gifts, although a move to regular first-team football, in a new country, with a new language etc, would represent a significant gear shift.

Close to departing the Premier League, Guinea-Bissau's Beto appears on the cusp of concluding his frustrating stint at Everton with a move to Fiorentina.

Despite winning over some sceptics with his endeavour and work rate, the 28-year-old's finishing remains a source of exasperation at the Hill Dickinson, and the imminent arrival of Folarin Balogun would leave him surplus to requirements.

Another player squeezed out by recent arrivals is Pape Matar Sarr at Spurs. Once CAF's Young Player of the Year, the 23-year-old excelled under Ange Postecoglou, but lost his way amidst the distresses of last season's relegation battle, and is being lost in the shuffle of the Lilwhites' expensively assembled squad.

Sarr's international teammate Lamine Camara, who succeeded him as Africa's YPOTY, has also been tipped with a high-profile deadline-day move, with Chelsea understood to be monitoring his situation.

Any move for the 22-year-old may be dependent on the Blues' ability to offload Enzo Fernández to Manchester City, and Monaco's Camara would find himself battling for central-midfield minutes with the likes of Moisés Caicedo, Reece James and Romeo Lavia.

Nonetheless, the prospect of tasting life in the Premier League under Xabi Alonso, one of the finest midfielders of his generation, would surely hold great appeal for the former Metz man.

Players in the rumour mill

Liverpool's signing of Bradley Barcola and reports that Gakpo is now set to stay looks to leave the Reds well stocked for wingers as the transfer window nears its conclusion.

This pours cold water on the prospect of a deadline day move to Anfield for long-term target Ismaïla Sarr, despite the Merseysiders already having a bid of approximately €60m for the 28-year-old rejected by Crystal Palace.

Sarr has reportedly refused to play until he secures a move away from Selhust Park, although Galatasaray remain interested in the winger.

https://footballwhispers.com/blog/ismaila-sarr-liverpool-football-whispers-index/

Yankuba Minteh of Brighton is another wideman linked with a deadline-day switch to Anfield, although talks between the Reds and the Seagulls are understood to have stalled after the latter slapped an eye-watering £80m price-tag on the 22-year-old.

While Minteh could have been a potential Salah replacement, the arrival of Barcola, the previous signing of Víctor Muñoz, Rio Ngumoha and Gakpo's ongoing presence should give Andoni Iraola ample wide options.

Tosin Adarabioyo has found himself falling down the pecking order at Chelsea after the club invested prominently in their central defensive options, and while Spurs also have a wealth of defensive options, a departure for Kevin Danso could leave the Anglo-Nigerian defender as a competent 'quick fix' for experienced, authoritative defensive cover.

Slightly more far-fetched are rumours linking Arsenal with a deadline-day swoop for Victor Osimhen.

While the centre-forward position still looks like an area of weakness for the Gunners, with Kai Havertz again flattering to deceive against Villa, it's surely too late in the window for them to launch an approach for Osimhen.

The deal would make sense for the Gunners, with the 27-year-old a genuinely magnificent striking all-rounder, who would immediately give Mikel Arteta's side a greater threat going forward.

Manchester United are also understood to be keen on the striker, although given Osimhen's salary, and the fact Al Hilal had a €150m bid rejected for his services recently, the financials don't appear to make sense at such a late stage.

Amad Diallo, Trey Nyoni, Simon Adingra, Ethan Nwaneri, Bilal El Khannouss, and Cameroon duo Karl Etta Eyong and Christian Kofane are among the other players tipped for a deadline-day move.