- Ndiaye has been one of Everton’s best pieces of business in Premier League era.
- Stellar performances over past two seasons have guided the Blues up the PL.
- Gareth Barry has warned his old club it needs to keep the Senegal international.
Iliman Ndiaye has made 64 appearances in his first two seasons at Everton and has become their star man.
As the club’s top goal scorer in his first season, he continues to provide flair on the wings for the Toffees and is a threat in front of goal.
Even though his stunning performances have put smiles on the faces of many Evertonians, he is attracting attention from some of the best teams in the world.
In light of this, a former Everton hero has sent a warning to his old club and hopes they can keep one of their finest players.
Gareth Barry hopes Everton can hold onto Iliman Ndiaye
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, ex-Toffee Gareth Barry was complimentary about Ndiaye and understands how important he is for Everton’s long-term project.
He said: “He’s that type of player that naturally gets interest. That style of player doesn’t come along too often.
“And for Everton they are hard to replace, especially when you are not in the Champions League.
“If I am the club, I am doing all I can to try and keep him happy, obviously some of it comes down to him, the player, but I am sure the club are going to be on their toes.
“But I’m confident [he will stay] as he seems to be really enjoying his football.”
Ndiaye has only featured in a European competition once, when he featured for Marseille in their 2023-24 Europa League campaign and made it all the way to the semi finals.
Do Everton consider selling Iliman Ndiaye for the right price?
Ndiaye is a phenomenal player and he is at the core of Everton’s attacking force.
The ideal situation would be that the Toffees hold onto him and build their team around the Senegalese.
But as Everton goes through a transformational period, a lot of money will be needed to rebuild the club, and a lucrative sale might be needed to help this process.
The 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength, and should an eight-figure fee be sent to the Toffees, they may not immediately reject an approach.
However, at the crux of this conundrum is how irreplaceable Ndiaye is.
His dynamism and unpredictability make him a high-class talent, and losing him would only create an extremely tough void to fill.
