- Man Utd have reportedly been linked with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.
- Everton have previously sold several key players to Old Trafford.
- Supporters will hope history does not repeat itself this summer.
Evertonians fans may not wish to hear this right now, but the road from Everton to Manchester United is one that is well-travelled.
That is why reports linking Manchester United with Iliman Ndiaye have inevitably captured attention on Merseyside.
While there is currently little indication that Everton are prepared to part with the Senegal international, the mere mention of Old Trafford is enough to bring back memories of some of the club’s most significant departures of the Premier League era.
From Wayne Rooney to Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku, Everton have often found themselves watching influential players make the journey from Merseyside to Manchester.
That history helps explain why many Blues supporters will be hoping Ndiaye does not become the latest name added to that list.
Wayne Rooney remains the defining example
No transfer between Everton and Manchester United has generated more noise than Wayne Rooney’s departure in 2004.
Having emerged from Everton’s academy and become one of English football’s brightest young talents, Rooney left Goodison Park for Old Trafford at the age of 18 in a deal worth an initial £20 million, potentially rising to £27 million.
From a financial perspective, the move provided Everton with much-needed resources.
From a football perspective, however, it saw the club lose a player who would go on to become Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the finest English footballers of his generation.
More than two decades later, Rooney’s transfer remains one of the most discussed exits in Everton’s modern history.
Fellaini and Lukaku followed the same route
The Rooney deal would not be the last time Manchester United looked towards Everton for reinforcements.
In 2013, David Moyes returned to his former club to sign Marouane Fellaini after taking charge at Old Trafford. The Belgian midfielder had become a key figure at Everton and left for a fee of around £27.5 million.
Four years later, Romelu Lukaku completed an even bigger move.
After scoring goals consistently during his time on Merseyside, the Belgian striker joined Manchester United in a deal worth up to £90 million including add-ons, making him one of Everton’s biggest sales ever.
Both transfers generated significant income for Everton, but each also removed a player who had been central to the team’s ambitions.
Why Ndiaye feels different
That is why the current Ndiaye situation attracts so much attention.
Unlike Rooney in 2004, Everton are not under obvious pressure to sell. Unlike Fellaini in 2013, there is no release clause forcing the club’s hand. And unlike Lukaku in 2017, there has been no public indication that the player is actively seeking a move.
In fact, Everton’s position appears relatively strong.
The 26-year-old remains under contract until 2029 and recent reports have suggested the club are relaxed despite ongoing discussions over improved terms. At the same time, David Moyes views Ndiaye as one of the cornerstones of the project being built under The Friedkin Group.
That does not mean speculation will disappear.
When talented players perform consistently in the Premier League, interest from clubs with greater financial power is almost inevitable.
However, Everton supporters will be hoping the club’s current position allows them to break a cycle that has repeated itself too often over the last two decades.
For a fanbase that has watched Rooney, Fellaini and Lukaku make the journey to Old Trafford, keeping hold of Ndiaye would feel like a statement that this Everton project is moving in a different direction.
