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Everton closing in on deal for Ndiaye
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.
Article continues below video content
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.
Reader Comments (112)
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2 Posted 23/06/2024 at 01:50:51
3 Posted 23/06/2024 at 02:16:07
Yes in one season in France he played about 10 more games than Andre Gomes did a year prior and had 3 goals and 3 assists to Gomes 3 goals and 2 assists. He's an attacker, Gomes is not. That aside from anything else gives me cause for concern.
4 Posted 23/06/2024 at 03:51:04
Besides from playing out wide, he could be a different option to Doucoure playing off a target man.
I wouldn't write him off after one poor season in France. I'd be happy if we bought him, but I think we'll be able to get him on a loan with a buy option, so even his TW doubters should be reasonably happy then.
5 Posted 23/06/2024 at 04:36:01
If he is good enough he will play otherwise he is handy off the bench for not a lot of money.
6 Posted 23/06/2024 at 04:55:11
7 Posted 23/06/2024 at 08:45:02
8 Posted 23/06/2024 at 09:40:26
With DCL' imminent departure I would like to see a loan bid submitted to Chelsea for Rom who has no future at the club, IMO.
Lukaku is a proven goal scorer and would be perfect replacement for DCL. Thelwell would have a big task on hands with Rom's wages of £325k (which would need negotiation on Chelsea paying a big % wages)
9 Posted 23/06/2024 at 12:25:01
10 Posted 23/06/2024 at 13:03:31
Scrub that. He's 5ft 11â€. Read somewhere that's he's described as diminutive.
11 Posted 23/06/2024 at 16:55:28
12 Posted 23/06/2024 at 17:27:26
However, we need to get a couple of good pacy wingers.
13 Posted 23/06/2024 at 19:23:01
14 Posted 23/06/2024 at 23:28:10
A controversial choice for sure,but is quick,can use both feet and creates chances and is still young enough too.
15 Posted 24/06/2024 at 09:38:59
16 Posted 24/06/2024 at 18:06:02
17 Posted 24/06/2024 at 18:21:08
That's was my meaning, Nigel... always rated the lad myself and could prove real useful on the right flank or even upfront.
18 Posted 24/06/2024 at 21:19:27
Offer them Maupay plus cash. Get rid of one of the duds.
19 Posted 24/06/2024 at 21:20:16
Sell Onana and Beto and at least have a go at signing him. He is a natural goal scorer.
20 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:08:00
He could out score Dixie, and I'd still not want him.
21 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:12:57
Or was that someone else?
22 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:15:44
23 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:16:35
“It doesn't sound like he's done too well at marseille and I've not seen him for a year but while he was at united he was possibly the best player I've ever seen (albeit at championship level).
He's a very skillful, very hardworking frontman at his best next to a big man or as a 10. He's got that knack of bouncing off people and riding a challenge and he loves a meandering dribble! A joy to watch all round IMO!â€
24 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:17:25
25 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:17:41
26 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:25:52
Would be a great signing though, some creativity playing off whoever's upfront for us next season, creativity we've lacked since James.
27 Posted 24/06/2024 at 22:50:01
I'm happy if he stays and keeps fit.
I think he harbours a grudge about the attitude of some fans during his injuries and goal drought.
Get shut of Beto and get someone young (early twenties) and pacey.
Get the cash for Onana, keep Jarrad, keep Dyche and keep believing.
28 Posted 24/06/2024 at 23:17:22
29 Posted 24/06/2024 at 23:38:34
Only 24 so a good age and I think Marseille were just off it last season so best not to judge him too harshly on that.
30 Posted 25/06/2024 at 08:25:19
He had good stats in the Championship as an attacking midfielder and it would give Everton an option to play him at the top of a diamond-shaped midfield behind the striker.
31 Posted 25/06/2024 at 08:49:23
A skilful and determined player who will bring much needed versatility and skill in the top half of the pitch. I'd like to see him given the no 10 role and force Doucouré to play his way into the deep positions or bench him when he is having one of his anonymous patches.
This lad can play anywhere along the front line too. Let's hope he comes and Sean Dyche has a plan to utilise him appropriately. COYB.
32 Posted 25/06/2024 at 08:55:44
5 year contract also means less to go against PSR for this year.
I doubt the club would purposely go over PSR by doing deals before June 30th and this deal looks to only add around £3-4m for this year.
Ndidi next week on a free and the window already looks like a really good one for incomings.
33 Posted 25/06/2024 at 09:01:30
34 Posted 25/06/2024 at 09:02:35
I don't think Ndiaye becomes a free agent til next week so he's contracted to Leicester til then.
35 Posted 25/06/2024 at 10:11:10
£18.5M.
36 Posted 25/06/2024 at 10:19:15
All of this incoming and only Dobbin going the other way seems a bit odd.
37 Posted 25/06/2024 at 10:46:49
I am sure when Thelwell said some weeks back we would have to sell players, I can't believe he just meant Dobbin.
38 Posted 25/06/2024 at 10:52:40
Good to see some signings early in the window.
39 Posted 25/06/2024 at 11:20:50
The Echo! 🙊
40 Posted 25/06/2024 at 11:27:39
I'd rather have him than Danjuma for another season. I think the fans are going to like him too.
41 Posted 25/06/2024 at 11:28:12
42 Posted 25/06/2024 at 11:44:06
Yes I know the Echo, but other papers are suggesting there are 4 or 5 teams having to sell to avoid further points deductions and they all suggest Everton are one of these sides. I actually thought when David Prentice a big blue left the Echo to be our communications spokesperson then things would be better than they were. I don't even know if he is still our communications director as I cant remember any statement from him since he has been in post.
43 Posted 25/06/2024 at 12:02:47
We need better midfield attacking players and without them it's hard to match any opponents in the Prem.
Everton have been one of the weaker clubs in that area and I shuddered every time they lost possession in that area.
44 Posted 25/06/2024 at 12:15:01
Fully agree Col I just CAN'T see us going for transfers knowing full well they'll land us another points deduction.
To me there are two scenarios here.
1) The club ISN'T/WON'T BE in breach of PSR rules after completing the Ndiaye transfer.
2) There's an outgoing transfer due to be completed before Sunday which is allowing us to make the incoming one.
There is a third, which I don't believe has any credence, but no doubt the doom mongers on here will raise, which is the club still doesn't have a clue what it's doing and will just carry on regardless
Of the two likely scenarios I'm leaning towards number one.
45 Posted 25/06/2024 at 12:43:13
In all seriousness though, he said he's a great player and a great signing and fans will love him. That'll do for me
46 Posted 25/06/2024 at 13:22:00
47 Posted 25/06/2024 at 13:41:20
Based on the last hearing it's probably only 2 or 3 points anyway. We've already been punished for a fair chunk of any losses.
48 Posted 25/06/2024 at 13:47:26
He sounds like an Everton forward already.
49 Posted 25/06/2024 at 14:22:24
50 Posted 25/06/2024 at 14:47:11
51 Posted 25/06/2024 at 14:49:19
52 Posted 25/06/2024 at 15:46:27
That was my thought too.
Make the contract July 1st and date any money transfers after that date.
I don't think we are in a rush to sell anyone else before June 30th so I"m guessing we are now compliant following the Dobbin deal.
53 Posted 25/06/2024 at 15:51:37
Ndiaye, 24, scored four goals in 46 games for the club last season after joining from Sheffield United for £20m.
BBC Sport understands the two clubs are close to finding an agreement.
So I take it the two bums we bought last season that we haven't started paying the £40 million + for yet are now officially deemed as not good enough, and fuckwell has had to ask for more money to cover his fk up for buying two bums that he said were good enough. Now he wants another £20million so we can have three bums on the bench, and this idiot gets praised on here.oh mind you, I do him a disservice. He's just resigned Harrison and Young.
54 Posted 25/06/2024 at 16:02:14
55 Posted 25/06/2024 at 16:31:59
Perhaps I'm not reading your post correctly but the June 30th date isn't so important for incoming players. Even if we sign a player on June 1st only a very small percentage of his cost will appear in the 23/24 accounts. The cost of the player will be written off over the length of the contract up to a maximum of 5 years.
If we sell a player before June 30th,however, all of the sale proceeds will appear in the 23/24 accounts.
56 Posted 25/06/2024 at 16:32:03
Perhaps I'm not reading your post correctly but the June 30th date isn't so important for incoming players. Even if we sign a player on June 1st only a very small percentage of his cost will appear in the 23/24 accounts. The cost of the player will be written off over the length of the contract up to a maximum of 5 years.
If we sell a player before June 30th,however, all of the sale proceeds will appear in the 23/24 accounts.
57 Posted 25/06/2024 at 16:56:24
The 30th of June is VERY important for incoming players depending how close to the PSR limit we are.
58 Posted 25/06/2024 at 17:48:14
How?
59 Posted 25/06/2024 at 17:49:51
60 Posted 25/06/2024 at 18:05:56
61 Posted 25/06/2024 at 18:24:57
Well lets say we're right on the limit for PSR.
We buy Ndiaye at the circa £18m 5 year contract being bandied about and the deal completes on the 29th of June.
We're then £3.6m over the limit for 23/24.
Or do I just not understand how this works?
62 Posted 25/06/2024 at 18:58:01
Perhaps I'm wrong but in those circumstances the only cost for 23/24 would be 2/365ths of 3.6 million.
63 Posted 25/06/2024 at 20:34:05
64 Posted 25/06/2024 at 21:40:57
65 Posted 25/06/2024 at 23:47:29
I'm mostly surprised at fans who think we have learnt lessons and will not get sanctioned again. I'm sure we are already awaiting further points deductions.
66 Posted 25/06/2024 at 23:52:05
Obviously a boatload of talent there. Seems like a proper gamble to me.
67 Posted 25/06/2024 at 23:59:44
So Ndiaye has reversed the old adage. It's one thing doing it on a cold rainy night in Stoke but can he do it on a calm sunny day in the South of France? 🤔
68 Posted 26/06/2024 at 00:28:44
Everything I said is true. Don't you read the posts or do you just stick a pin in one and disagree with them. Thelwell must be getting some big backhanders from these bums agents. Let's see how many your fav four score this season.
I'll be sticking my pin in your predictions.
69 Posted 26/06/2024 at 01:24:40
70 Posted 26/06/2024 at 01:28:53
I've a good mate from Naples with strong contacts at Napoli. Most of last year they'd been looking into a deal — as champions of Italy — to replace Osmihen — had he left with Beto. So believe it or not getting him for the fee we did with nothing upfront was quite a coup. Have I been impressed with him thus far? No. But hindsight is 20/20 you've got to think back to the deal as viewed at the time.
As for Chermitti that deal was also nothing upfront but could rise to 13 million or so IF certain targets are met. Hopefully we end up paying that money cause if we do it means he's a success. If he's not then we don't have to pay it all.
For you and I of course the sums of money are insane. But you've got to look at it in context. Chelsea just spent ONE BILLION POUNDS to accomplish nothing. If a one hundred million pound player at Chelsea can prove to be an expensive flop then realistically, the odds on a 20 million player making it are remote.
71 Posted 26/06/2024 at 01:42:39
72 Posted 26/06/2024 at 01:55:46
Hasn't Thelwell brought in Tark, Onana (who will surely be sold for a profit?), Garner, Gueye, and McNeill?
And he jettisoned quite a few players who weren't contributing or on bloated wages I think?
Beto and Danjuma weren't terrible signings considering our finances? I still think there's a player with Chermiti, I like him. The Dobbin "swap" was shrewd.
I think Thelwell's done alright considering the incredible restrictions financially.
Someone who has time should do an article showing all of Thelwell's incomings and outgoings, the overall financial fallout of his signings and loans, etc. I'm not the guy to do that but would love to read that article.
For me, superficial analysis admittedly, Thelwell has done fine under the circumstances. I have zero issues with him.
If this kid Ndiaye shined at Sheffield and simply had a rough year moving to France, we need to be in the business of giving talent with a good work ethic and attitude a second chance.
EDIT** - Paul, I am NOT a fan of Young at all! But I like us signing him for another year. Everton desperately need veterans and consistency in the lineup. Desperately. He will drive me mad, but it's NOT a poor decision to sign him. And Harrison is a capable player and Everton have zero money to go crazy and buy some worldie player. Harrison is liked by Dyche and fits into his system. Good enough for me and especially considering we were on what? 50 points without deductions? I'll take that again next season. no where near relegation while we open our new stadium, right the ship under new ownership, and rebuild / rise from the ashes. Don't be so hard on Thelwell, dude is doing what he can and isn't doing terribly at all.
73 Posted 26/06/2024 at 04:23:25
Does anyone mind if I just leave that up there as it is so that we can look at it from time to time, smile ruefully (with a touch of pathos), shake our heads in collective disbelief (again, with a splash of pathos), wonder at the sheer degree of self-delusion, and, because we are Evertonians when all is said and done, hope that Mr. Kossoff has good networks of support and help.
74 Posted 26/06/2024 at 04:25:54
Very well said on Thelwell, who has had one of his hands tied behind his back since his Day 1 on the job. IMHO, is he a world-beating DoF like Monchi at Villa? Probably not, but he has managed our squad well (making lemonades out of lemons!) and has kept a good working relationship with Dyche so far (Not every DoF can handle Dyche's stubbornness).
75 Posted 26/06/2024 at 06:08:48
The same applies to players we have signed for transfer fees and the clubs they have come from. A forward signed from Udinese or Sporting Lisbon is destined to come good, while home-grown youngsters are written off or sold before they have been given any sort of run in the team.
Over the last week, I have seen posts saying Beto was good in Italy, so may come good in England. There has been zero evidence of that in his performances. He has been dreadful.
Equally, Chermiti has shown glimpses of greater potential than Simms, Cannon and Dobbin? I would love to know which games he showed this as I watched them all and respectfully disagree. He may improve, he may not - but he is certainly no better than Ellis, Tom or Lewis at this point in time. Let's be honest, these three players were sold as their transfer fees benefit our PSR position in that season while the cost of Beto and Chermiti can be amortised over the period of their contract.
Making these decisions is the ultimate definition of short-termism.
Now we should be pleased if we sign Ndiaye as he had a good season in the Championship with Shef Utd (let's coveniently forget his dreadful season in Ligue 1 with Marseilles). And he will be a suitable replacement for DCL, a quality and seasoned premier league striker? I respectfully disagree.
Thelwell is doing what he needs to do because of the financial constraints and demands of PSR, but little of it has to do with football logic, and I am sure a number of the transfer decisions would be different if we were a stable and well-run club.
76 Posted 26/06/2024 at 06:44:03
And whether one chooses to ignore Ndiaye's bad season in France or his great one in the Championship, like whether to ignore Beto's two good seasons in Italy or his bad one in England, it's still an exercise in selective memory either way. One can choose to be an optimist or a pessimist. One can choose to trust or distrust Thelwell's judgement.
I trust it. I think he's done a terrific job under impossible circumstances and deserves great credit for our survival. He hasn't been perfect on his calls, but he's been pretty damned good in my book. And yes, of course, many of his decisions would likely have been very different if he weren't trying to pick up the pieces of some train wreck management. But obviously if Everton had been a stable and well-run club we wouldn't be having these conversations. Hopefully stability is happening now.
77 Posted 26/06/2024 at 08:02:35
78 Posted 26/06/2024 at 08:47:44
79 Posted 26/06/2024 at 10:52:51
Beto and Chermiti joined the club with no initial layout as the club are skint and on our arse so in my opinion that's incredibly good negotiation from Thelwell.
Players coming from an overseas league will need time to settle in the PL or do you not think that is the case?
Many foreign players coming from overseas leagues do struggle to adapt to the pace and style of the PL and Beto and Chermiti should be given a chance of a pre-season and 2nd season before judgements are made as to whether they are bums or not, it's your prerogative to disagree or agree with this but I would say that's giving them a fair crack of the whip.
80 Posted 26/06/2024 at 10:55:08
81 Posted 26/06/2024 at 13:53:02
Really promising signing I think who will bring us some real creativity and ability to change the game suddenly at the 10m position. We've not had that since James or Sigurdsson, and neither of them could beat a man as easily as Ndiaye can.
Watching his clips reminds me a little bit of Kevin Mirallas but I don't think Dyche would be signing him unless he had a better work ethic than the mercurial Belgian!
Exited to see him, hopefully playing in the 10 position with Doucoure at 8 (his preferred position) arriving late. Just need a starting RB and a pacy winger at RW and we might have some real balance to this team.
82 Posted 26/06/2024 at 14:07:51
And if asked whether he'll make a difference in our midfield I'd say.
Indeed he will.
Ah thangyouuuuu.
83 Posted 26/06/2024 at 14:25:07
84 Posted 26/06/2024 at 14:28:56
You're right. Remember Bergkamp? Non-entity in Italy, brilliant in England and highly skillful.
85 Posted 26/06/2024 at 14:59:27
Bergkamp, whom you mention Kieran, was acknowledged as being an excellent talent in Italy - but he was squeezed uncomfortably into a 3 man attack with Darko Pancev and Alvaro Recoba and it didn't work at all (I think the whole Inter side at that time was a collection of quality players rather than a "team"). His role at Arsenal was much closer to his role at Ajax – and he was magnificent.
86 Posted 26/06/2024 at 15:25:54
Don't suppose you can take Maupay with you? Asking for a friend...
87 Posted 26/06/2024 at 15:53:39
88 Posted 26/06/2024 at 15:58:18
Also, I don't think we can ignore the fact that Ndiaye seemed comfortable in the Championship but struggled at a higher level in Ligue 1? Dyche only ever plays one man up front, so I assume he will feature as an attacking midfielder.
if Ndiaye is not a replacement for DCL, that leaves Beto and your favourite rookie Chermiti. Either one weakens us as a replacement for Dominic. Rumour is that Beto may leave after one season (at a loss) and the best outcome for Chermiti is that he secures a loan to try to develop his game, so the answer may be neither.
I don't necessarily blame Thelwell for this, as he has had no transfer funds and fiendish PSR challenges. But our transfer dealings over the last 3 years have weakened the squad and I doubt this will not change this summer.
If we were progressing, we wouldn't be resigning Harrison, Coleman or Young. Nor would we be contemplating the loss of DCL, Onana and/or Branthwaite with their replacements in Ndiaye, Iroegbunam and, for example, Jacob Greaves. It isn't a matter of optimism or pessimism, simply logic and reality.
I suggested putting up a statue of Sean Dyche last season if he kept us up given the challenges he faced. If he can get a squad without DCL, Onana and Branthwaite to perform better with these replacements, then I suggest we name the new stadium after him.
89 Posted 26/06/2024 at 16:08:47
90 Posted 26/06/2024 at 16:11:42
And Ndiaye is a forward not an out-and-out striker.
91 Posted 26/06/2024 at 16:20:55
I am not sure where Ndiaye will play. Replacement for Doucoure, Harrison? Dyche will not play a second striker or a front three.
We signed Beto for £25.7 million and are rumoured to be ready to sell him to Fernebache for £16 million.
92 Posted 26/06/2024 at 16:36:51
Doucoure spent alot of last season playing somewhere between second striker and AMC and this will suit Ndiaye to a tee. Hopefully we would not be spending £15m without Thelwell and Dyche having had detailed chats about where Ndiaye plays and fits in.
I think he could prove very popular.
93 Posted 26/06/2024 at 17:06:56
Also worth noting that with Sheffield he slotted in behind the striker (usually McBurnie), but Marseilles played him mostly on the wings. Maybe that doesn't suit him, I don't know... never saw him play last season. But as for your assertion that Dyche doesn't play a second striker, he certainly does when the situation warrants, and it's Doucoure. Maybe he plugs Ndiaye into his natural position there and pulls Duke further back.***
But I guarantee you that Thelwell and Dyche have something very specific in mind for the player. Their judgment has been pretty good so far.
*** ...which is pretty much what Sam just posted while I was laboring through my post.
Sam, please don't sue me for copyright infringement.
94 Posted 26/06/2024 at 17:15:03
95 Posted 26/06/2024 at 17:56:46
96 Posted 26/06/2024 at 18:05:56
And I've seen this lad sky an awful lot of shots. He's pretty unproven at the top level, still Dyche knows what he's doing, let's hope it all works out.
97 Posted 26/06/2024 at 18:08:07
I'm thinking about players like Coutinho, who played for Liverpool, who you would expect to excel more on the continent, but English football does seem to suit the players who have got good movement and a good first touch.
98 Posted 26/06/2024 at 18:43:21
We've now (but for the official announcement) signed two midfielders with attacking and creative skills.
Next week we're more than likely to sign a further midfielder.
The powers that be seem to have seen things as we've seen 'em.
Just try, really hard, to maybe see a positive going forward.
99 Posted 27/06/2024 at 10:07:41
Gomes, Onana (Probably), Dobbin, out.
Ndiayi, Iroegbunam, Ndidi, in.
Almost certainly at a profit in fees and (maybe) salaries.
That is a step forward in my eyes.
Those who predicted a fire sale have so far been proved wrong.
We still need to find a winger with pace, a couple of, ideally young, defenders, and replace anyone else who leaves. But for the first time in a while I am not worried about the transfer situation. I have a sneaking feeling that Thelwell and Dyche actually know what they are doing.
100 Posted 27/06/2024 at 10:22:38
Any truth in it??
101 Posted 27/06/2024 at 11:36:22
I really like the cut of him and hope we can get him.
102 Posted 27/06/2024 at 11:40:51
First, we have Onana, Garner and Gana.
Now we have Ndidi and Ndiaye. I gather Newcastle have a promising young striker called Ndiweni, maybe we can get him as part exchange in the Calvert-Lewin deal and we'll have another treble...
104 Posted 27/06/2024 at 11:49:11
Not to mention building a team around Kevins. (Where are all the Kevins now?)
105 Posted 27/06/2024 at 13:23:30
I think they have become DoF's
106 Posted 27/06/2024 at 14:17:23
I'd never heard of Ndiaye until a few days ago, so he's probably a brilliant player.
Ndidi. Ndiaye. Ndunno.
107 Posted 27/06/2024 at 18:06:40
108 Posted 28/06/2024 at 20:45:48
Business is brisk it would seem at Goodison these days... good news!
109 Posted 29/06/2024 at 22:24:21
What's stopping us from getting this done?
110 Posted 29/06/2024 at 22:31:37
111 Posted 02/07/2024 at 22:06:24
112 Posted 02/07/2024 at 22:12:01
113 Posted 02/07/2024 at 22:42:45
May be some surprises to come.
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1 Posted 23/06/2024 at 00:41:33