Everton is in brilliant form as they pick up back-to-back wins as their forward lines continue delivering.
Everton’s season has been built on resilience and team spirit, but individual quality has also played its part. Back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Burnley have lifted the Blues to eighth in the table, with European qualification now a genuine target.
One player has been central to that resurgence. The Senegal international has combined creativity with goal threat all season, and his performances have caught the attention of a former Everton favourite who knows a thing or two about wing play.
Ndiaye can play for any top team
Anders Limpar, part of Everton’s last trophy-winning side in 1995, has delivered a glowing assessment of the current squad’s most exciting attacker. Speaking to Aceodds, the Swede didn’t hold back in his praise.
“Ndiaye, I can see him fitting in at any top team in the Premier League. He is that good. I hope that he doesn’t leave Everton,” Limpar said.
The comparison he drew was telling. “He’s similar to Doku and he could play on the wing for a Liverpool or for Manchester United. He’s that good.”
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Iliman Ndiaye arrived from Olympique Marseille for £15m in July 2024 and finished his first season as Everton’s top scorer with 11 goals. He scored the last two goals at Goodison Park and the first competitive goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium. This term, he has been equally clinical, most recently setting up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 2-0 win over Burnley.
The Grealish factor and building for the future
Limpar highlighted how Ndiaye’s effectiveness increases when he has another high-quality ball-carrier alongside him. Jack Grealish’s loan move from Manchester City provided that balance before the England international’s season was cut short by a stress fracture in his left foot.
“There’s a lot of talk about making Jack Grealish’s move permanent and when I see him and Ndiaye playing together, Everton look good,” Limpar observed.
“When I see that Jack is not there and Ndiaye is on his own, he’s not as good because Jack is letting the pressure off everybody when he’s receiving the ball and being calm on the ball. He needs a winger like that, Ndiaye, to be good at Everton.”
The former winger hopes Everton builds around their star rather than cashing in.
“I hope Everton see that and they don’t let him go because if we sign Grealish, keep Ndiaye and solve this problem up front with a proper number nine who can score goals, then Everton can challenge for the top six for many years.”
For a player who has already written his name into Everton folklore with those Goodison farewell goals, the prospect of being part of a push up the table is surely appealing. Limpar’s verdict is clear, Ndiaye is special, and Everton must do everything to keep him.
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