Ndiaye Out, Grealish In… Not Ideal, But Not The End Of The World

Everton would rather not sell Iliman Ndiaye. David Moyes wants to keep Iliman Ndiaye.

Evertonians, myself included, on the whole, would prefer Iliman Ndiaye to stay. Yet Iliman Ndiaye does not want to sign a new contract at Everton.

According to various reports, Ndiaye’s refusal to agree to the offers so far put forward by Everton centre around his — and/or his representatives’ — desire to include a release clause in the contract.

While Everton are understood not to be closed off to such a clause, they would want it to reflect Ndiaye’s value in the current market. However, the attacker’s reps were demanding a clause well below market value.

And so, we are where we are. Ndiaye is by no means unhappy but, he is not showing any signs of wanting to agree to fresh terms. He has 3 years left on his deal and, as the window dragged on, it always seemed likely clubs would make their move.

Al-Hilal never did, despite Ndiaye’s agent pushing that narrative earlier in the summer. However, Manchester City, it appears, have now pulled the trigger on at least exploring what a deal may look like.

The talk is Everton now value Ndiaye around the £80M mark — Man City can have few complaints, the ludicrous free they have received from Tottenham for Savio has no doubt played a part in setting that valuation.

Talks are supposedly under way, albeit David Moyes insisted, as of Friday, that Everton had not yet received an official offer for Ndiaye. The Scot fell short of rubbishing the reports of Man City’s interest, however.

Speculation has mounted that Man City wish to use Everton’s interest in getting Jack Grealish back to the club as part of a deal. Man City need Grealish’s wages off the books, with the 30-year-old having one season left to run on his contract.

His book value comes in at around £16M and, if a permanent return for Grealish is to go through, it is not out of the realms of possibility to imagine the clubs coming to some sort of agreement where Everton get their valuation for Ndiaye, but also hand Man City that full book value for Grealish.

The reaction online has generally been mixed. Some don’t feel Everton should sell Ndiaye at all. Some don’t want Grealish back. Some think Everton should sell Ndiaye but just take the money and reinvest.

The issue is, with such little time left in the transfer window, is that Everton would be scampering around for a replacement, and replacing Ndiaye like for like would not be easy.

He is a pretty unique player. An excellent dribbler, who works tirelessly in defence, can play on both sides (even if he is probably more of a threat from the right), and can finish. He is capable of the spectacular — there’s a reason Man City, and Arsenal, are interested.

So getting a deal done for a player who can bring all of those traits, and also wants to join Everton, would not be easy to do in such a limited time frame.
And that’s where Grealish comes in.

Grealish wants to join Everton. He would have to take a wage cut to do it, on a permanent deal anyway, but he wants to be here. One key box checked.

He also brings some of the dribbling ability and in-possession capabilities of Ndiaye, even if he lacks the explosive burst of speed and finishing traits.
Grealish also offers traits that Ndiaye doesn’t.

While Ndiaye can certainly deliver a cross, he is not creative in the same way Grealish is. The statistics from last season back that up. 

In the Premier League last term, Ndiaye played 32 games. Per 90 minutes played, he averaged 0.19 goals, 0.22 xG, 0.1 assists, 0.14 expected assists and 0.97 chances created. 

In 22 top-flight matches, Grealish averaged 0.11 goals, 0.12 xG, 0.33 assists, 0.2 expected assists and 2.1 chances created per 90 minutes.

Stats don’t paint the whole picture, but they do back up that Grealish brings more creativity, while Ndiaye offers more flair and more of a goal threat.

In an ideal world, Everton would have both on their books. But, it’s difficult to see any club not in Europe being able to carry 5 out and out wide players in their squad.

I do not wish for Ndiaye to leave but, if Everton are to strike a deal with Man City, getting Grealish in at least plugs the immediate gap in the squad.

Everton may then be able to reinvest in a forward who can offer more reliable support to Thierno Barry, and replace Ndiaye’s goal threat that way. They perhaps could stretch for a right-back target... and even a left-back.

If Ndiaye stays, I for one will be delighted, regardless of whether Grealish comes back or not, but sometimes you have to make the best of a situation you’d rather not be in.

 

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