Iliman Ndiaye has made his desire to leave Everton known this summer, with the forward having rejected as many as four new contract offers from the club.
According to Giulia Bould, Ndiaye is now open to a move to Al Hilal, though the Saudi club have yet to lodge a formal offer with Everton — his agent remains in talks with them in the meantime.
That fits with where this story stood as of Monday: Everton aware of Al Hilal’s interest, no club-to-club negotiations yet opened, and the Toffees [believed to be holding out for a fee in the region of the £70m Newcastle received for Anthony Gordon.
What’s changed is that this is now clearly Ndiaye’s position too, not just speculation about Saudi interest.
Everton’s stance hasn’t shifted. They don’t want to sell and believe they hold the leverage, given Ndiaye’s contract runs to 2029.
Any departure, in other words, happens on Everton’s terms or not at all.
The rejected contract offers are the detail worth sitting with.
Everton have tried more than once to tie him down and have been unceremoniously turned away each time — a pattern that makes his intentions very clear. He wants to leave Everton this summer … as simple as that.
All the Toffees have left is to get top dollar.
