Friedkin Group stance on Iliman Ndiaye transfer shared amid ‘surprise’ Everton developments
Everton may face a battle to keep Iliman Ndiaye with several clubs interested in the forward.
David Moyes claimed that he wanted to keep Ndiaye at Everton, but the player’s wishes are unknown at this point.
However, BBC journalist Phil McNulty claims that the Friedkin Group are not under pressure to sell anybody on Merseyside, especially Ndiaye.
That suggests that the American ownership is backing Moyes’ stance on the potential transfer, and he will be sticking around at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Why Everton do not have to sell Iliman Ndiaye
McNulty believes that Everton are not under any pressure to sell Ndiaye, as a result of their improved financial situation.
He claims that while it would be strange if there was no interest due to his recent performances, the Toffees do not need to be a selling club under the new ownership.
Writing for the BBC on 13 November, he said: “It would be a surprise if Ndiaye was not attracting admiring glances from elsewhere. He was Everton’s best, and most creative, outfield player last season and has been in this campaign as well. Just look at the goal he scored at Sunderland.
“There have been stories suggesting Inter Milan and Tottenham might be interested, but Everton manager David Moyes has pointed out Ndiaye has three-and-a-half years left on his contract and has no intention of selling.
“The key point here is that since the arrival of The Friedkin Group as new owners, Everton are no longer the selling club they have had to be in the past, when they had severe financial problems.
“The billionaire ownership group are under no financial pressure to sell anyone. Indeed, Everton are now in the business of retaining their best players on long contracts, as proved by new deals for England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defender Jarrad Branthwaite.“
Ndiaye’s Everton exploits are even more impressive
Ndiaye’s impressive form for Everton is even more staggering after a new reveal from Opta on 12 November.
The Blues star has been shifted to the right flank this season, and the Toffees created just 18.2 per cent of their chances down that side of the pitch.
That makes the fact that he has notched four goals and one assist more impressive and means that if they increase that frequency, his numbers may get even better.
- Jack Grealish’s arrival led to Ndiaye moving to the right-hand side
- Ndiaye got nine goals last season from the left
- He has adapted to a new role extremely quickly
It will be a huge relief to Blues fans to hear that the ownership sees Ndiaye’s future on Merseyside, rather than cashing in for big money.
However, the club now need to ensure that they can match his ambitions, and qualifying for Europe must be the aim.
Ndiaye is good enough to play in the Champions League, he will realise that, and so will those in charge in L3.
Their next focus must be improving the squad, so there are more players who are the same level as the Senegal star, and they are not as reliant on him.
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