- Liverpool have been linked with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye in recent transfer reports.
- The Senegal international remains under contract at Everton until 2029.
- History shows why any direct move would be particularly painful for Evertonians.
Liverpool’s reported interest in Iliman Ndiaye is exactly the kind of transfer rumour that Everton supporters will hope never develops beyond speculation.
Reports this week have suggested Liverpool are monitoring the Senegal international’s situation amid ongoing discussions over an improved Everton contract. While the claims remain speculative and Everton are under no immediate pressure to sell, the mere prospect of a direct move across Stanley Park is enough to raise alarm bells.
For Everton, this is about far more than losing a talented player.
It is about the possibility of strengthening their fiercest rivals while weakening a squad that is supposed to be entering an exciting new chapter under David Moyes and The Friedkin Group.
Liverpool links highlight Ndiaye’s growing importance
Since arriving from Marseille in the summer of 2024, Ndiaye has rapidly established himself as one of Everton’s most influential attacking players.
His technical ability, versatility and willingness to carry the ball have made him a fan favourite, while his performances have increasingly positioned him as one of the players Everton should be building around rather than considering cashing in on.
That is why reports surrounding Liverpool inevitably generate a different reaction from supporters than interest from elsewhere.
Everton fans understand that top players attract attention. They have seen some of the club’s biggest talents move to elite sides throughout the Premier League era.
A potential move to Liverpool, however, belongs in a completely different category.
The rivalry between the two clubs remains one of English football’s most historic and emotionally charged. Even in an age where transfers are increasingly viewed through a business lens, certain moves still carry far greater significance.
An Everton player joining Liverpool is one of them.
History explains why supporters are concerned
The most infamous example remains Nick Barmby.
When the England international completed a move from Everton to Liverpool in 2000, the reaction from the blue half of Merseyside was immediate and fierce. Barmby had captained Everton and was viewed by many supporters as one of the club’s leaders.
His decision to join Liverpool ensured his relationship with many Evertonians would never fully recover.
Just two years later, Abel Xavier also crossed the divide when he joined Liverpool from Everton. Although the circumstances were different, the transfer reinforced the discomfort many supporters feel whenever a player moves directly between the clubs.
Those examples remain part of Everton folklore and help explain why Ndiaye’s name appearing alongside Liverpool immediately attracts attention.
Everton hold the cards
The good news for Everton is that this situation is entirely different from those previous cases.
Ndiaye remains under contract until 2029, meaning Everton are operating from a position of strength. Reports surrounding contract talks have centred on improved terms rather than any imminent threat of losing the player.
That should give the club confidence as discussions continue.
More importantly, Ndiaye represents the type of player Everton need if they are to push forward during the early years of the Hill Dickinson Stadium era. At 26, he is entering his prime and has already demonstrated the qualities required to become a cornerstone of Moyes’ rebuild.
Selling a key player is never easy.
Selling one to Liverpool would be considerably harder.
For Everton supporters, it would not simply be another transfer. It would revive memories of some of the most unpopular moves in the rivalry’s history and raise uncomfortable questions about the direction of the club’s project.
That is why this is one transfer story Everton will hope remains firmly in the rumour column.
