Everton have reportedly reignited their long-standing interest in Idrissa Gueye’s Senegal team-mate Iliman Ndiaye and are very close to completing a deal for him according to reports in France and Fabrizio Romano.
Ndiaye was strongly touted as a target of the Blues when he was at Sheffield United but nothing came of their interest and he eventually made the switch to Marseille in a €17m deal.
He played 46 times in all competitions last season but only scored four goals in what was, by some accounts, a turbulent year at the French club having registered a return of a goal every four matches during his time at Bramall Lane.
Reports in France suggested over the weekend that Everton had submitted an offer for the forward in the past few days and one Canal+ journalist who covers Marseille tweeted that Ndiaye has been looking for a house in Liverpool having already agreed to make the switch to Goodison Park.
Now, while Sky Sports confirm the Blues’ interest in the player, all three of Abdelleh Bouma of Fifa.com and Sports.fr, and Sébastian Denis and Santi Anouna, both of Foot Mercato, are reporting that an agreement has been reached between all parties believed to be for €18m with a further €2m in appearance-related add-ons.
Romano, meanwhile, says that a deal is “at the final stages” with Marseille.
There are other Premier League clubs who have made enquiries about the Ndiaye but Everton are the only club reported so far to have lodged an official offer.