Iliman Ndiaye makes transfer priority known amid Everton and Man City talks

Iliman Ndiaye's move from Everton to Manchester City could be about to gather pace.

The Senegal ace has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with City looking for attacking reinforcements having let Savio and Omar Marmoush leave.

Ndiaye, 26, has been consistently linked with an exit from the Hill Dickinson Stadium throughout the summer.

Mancheser United and Arsenal have previously been noted as admirers, with Ndiaye having expressed a desire to play in the Champions League.

A lucrative move to Al-Hilal had appeared to be on the cards at one stage, too, though that deal went cold as Ndiaye waited to see what else came up.

It is now quickly looking like Ndiaye will head for the exit door before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

What's the latest with Iliman Ndiaye and Manchester City?

Losing Ndiaye this late in the window would represent a significant blow to Everton given how important he is to the team.

But the Toffees have offered several new contracts to the ex-Marseille man, which have all been turned down.

There is plenty of time left on his current deal, but it is fast becoming clear his intention is to depart in the final days of the window.

Indeed, journalist Santi Aouna wrote for Foot Mercato that Ndiaye has already made it his priority to move to the Etihad Stadium before Tuesday's deadline.

Moreover, he adds that talks between Everton and City are progressing positively with time left in the window to find a solution.

It does look unfortunately like Ndiaye's time as a Toffee is quickly coming to an end, and Everton will need to find a solution.

Is there an obvious solution for Everton?

BBC pundity Pat Nevin once described Ndiaye as "frightening" and that is an apt summation of his talent.

Losing a player of Ndiaye's quality this late in the window is not an ideal scenario for an Everton squad that needs reinforcing not weakening.

Having said that, there is an obvious solution staring all parties in the face, and that is a return to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for Jack Grealish.

The England winger will be turning 31 soon, but he still has plenty to offer and Everton need someone who can come in and hit the ground running.

Well, Grealish is a top-quality Premier League performer, and he knows Everton well having spent last season on loan before injury curtailed his campaign in February.

Everton have the likes of Tyrique George, Brennan Johnson, and Tyler Diblingon the books, and Grealish would just add a bit of 'X-Factor'.

Grealish clearly wants the deal, and bringing him back would ease the pain of Ndiaye leaving, it just makes sense to do it.