Your Sunday summary … Everton talking points for the week just gone.
1. The Ndiaye situation is now the biggest story at the club
Yakubu’s chat with ToffeeWeb, urging Everton to tie down Iliman Ndiaye and comparing him to Steven Pienaar, would carry less weight if it wasn’t bringing up somnething really key to the Toffees’ short-term future.
Ndiaye’s contract talks have stalled, and reports linking a sale to Manchester City worth up to £69m have not gone away. How Everton handle his contract over the coming weeks will shape the rest of the summer more than anything else on this list.
Track it as it develops in our Everton transfer pages.
2. Bowen’s stance changes the maths on Ndiaye
Jarrod Bowen’s reported willingness to join Everton, made known directly to David Moyes, only matters because of point one. A sale of Ndiaye funding a move for Bowen would mean trading a 26-year-old with Champions League ambitions for a 29-year-old the manager knows well from West Ham.
No bid has been lodged and nothing is imminent, but the two stories are increasingly hard to separate.
3. George’s arrival is close, and it’s shrewd business
Reports of an agreement in excess of £20m for Tyrique George mark one of the more sensible pieces of business Everton have done this summer — a young, versatile wide man with his best years still ahead, signed for a fee that reflects potential rather than current reputation.
Personal terms are understood to be the final formality.
4. Gueye’s exit is close to confirmed in all but name
Idrissa Gueye’s contract expired on 30 June, and the signals since have all pointed the same way. It’s worth remembering, though, that Hayden Hackney is not a direct replacement for what Gueye offered defensively — his game is built on progression rather than ball-winning.
That leaves a specific gap at the base of midfield still to be filled, whether through Mandela Keita’s arrival or Tim Iroegbunam staying at the club.
5. The mood around Grealish is genuinely encouraging
Of everything on this list, the Grealish situation is the one giving most cause for optimism. He chose to stay on Merseyside through his rehabilitation from a foot injury rather than return east, which the club see as a strong signal of his intentions.
David Moyes is understood to be keen to build around him, and reports suggest Grealish himself is happy at Everton and open to extending his stay, with the two parties working toward a permanent deal in the region of £20m — well below City’s original £50m buy-option figure, and a fee that reflects his contract situation rather than his impact on the pitch, where he produced eight direct goal contributions in 22 appearances before injury.
With Everton hopeful of having him available for pre-season, this is one saga that increasingly looks like ending the way most fans want it to.
