Iliman Ndiaye debate lives on as Everton exit rumours intensify
Iliman Ndiaye has been linked with an exit from Everton ahead of the summer transfer window.
Given the miserable end to the campaign, which saw the Toffees winless in their last seven and missing out on Europe as a result, this summer is shaping up to be a big one.
Everton are in need of major attacking reinforcements, given the fact that that is the area in which they struggled the most last time out.
Taking that into account, sanctioning an exit for Ndiaye, who was one of the only reliable attacking outlets last season, would seem nonsensical to some.
However, Everton may have to think twice before rebuffing any future offers for the forward.
Could Everton benefit from Iliman Ndiaye exit?
Could they? Yes. Would they? That's an entirely different question, and one that would depend on the business they did.
While Ndiaye was so often the only player who looked capable of doing anything last season, he was also far below the standards that even he has set for himself.
He finished the campaign with just six goals from 6.73 xG, while also having created just 30 chances.
In comparison, the campaign before last saw him score three more goals from even less xG.
That's not to say that he is declining after one campaign, though it does raise the question as to whether they would benefit from a big sale summer now more than they would from his contributions next season.
How much would Everton raise from Ndiaye sale?
The 26-year-old still has three years left on his deal with the Toffees, showcasing that they hold the cards.
As of the start of June, it was reported that Everton would be looking for a fee in the region of £70million if they were to sanction his exit,
At that price, it would see him become the Toffees' second-biggest sale ever, only beaten to the summit of that list by Romelu Lukaku's transfer to Man United back in 2017.
From then, it would be up to the Merseysiders to decide if that £70m would benefit the squad from a wider perspective.