Iliman Ndiaye: It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about what’s best for Everton
Iliman Ndiaye‘s time at Everton may be coming to an end, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The Toffees lost 3-1 to Sunderland on Sunday, a defeat which all but crushed any remaining hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
Ndiaye was one of several players who were atrocious, but it’s not the first time the winger has been poor in recent games.
The 26-year-old has been off the boil since scoring in the Blues’ 3-0 win over Chelsea before the international break, and his form has dipped at the crucial time.
Ndiaye is Everton’s most valuable asset, and David Moyes may even be open to selling his star player for multiple reasons.
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Why should Everton sell Iliman Ndiaye?
It’s said that Everton would only consider negotiations for Ndiaye at £55million, with multiple Premier League clubs tracking his performances.
He’s remained fit for most of the season, as his only real absence came while away with Senegal for the African Cup of Nations.
| Area of game | Stats |
| Matches | 31 |
| xG | 6.80 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Chances created per 90 | 0.97 |
As seen in the table above, Ndiaye is actually underperforming in the final third by 0.80 expected goals. He’s scored six times this season, but isn’t much of a chance creator, only making 0.97 opportunities for teammates per 90 minutes.
Considering the winger could be sold for £55m or more, Everton may look at this season and decide that now is the perfect time to cash in.
The only issue is that Angus Kinnear and Co. have shown that they aren’t amazing when it comes to finding ready-made Premier League players, so finding a replacement for Ndiaye could be risky.
Either way, his sale is most likely best for all parties, with the Toffees needing a full shake-up and overhaul this summer.
Jack Grealish would be Ndiaye’s replacement
When Jack Grealish was fit, Ndiaye was shifted on the right wing and out of position, but some would argue that he played better there.
Everton as a whole played better when Grealish was fit, and in an ideal world, the Toffees would have both him and Ndiaye on either flank next season.
However, the Friedkin Group will need to raise funds to sign the Manchester City star permanently, as well as have the money to pay for his wages.
This again brings Ndiaye’s sale into the equation, but Grealish would be his direct replacement.
The Blues would then need to find a new right-winger, and Esmir Bajraktarevic is someone they could go for this summer.
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