Everton are interested in a deal to bring Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: January offer rejected
The Blades star has now entered the final 18 months of his contract at Bramall Lane and could be tempted to look for a move elsewhere at the end of the season should Paul Heckingbottom’s side fail to secure promotion to the top-flight.
The Toffees reportedly made a £25m bid plus add-ons to sign the 23-year-old in the closing stages of January, and despite this being rejected by the Yorkshire outfit, it looks like Sean Dyche is set to take a second bite of the cherry.
Reports claim that the Goodison Park outfit, Newcastle United and West Ham have all sent scouts to watch their target in ‘recent weeks’, with the Merseysiders currently the ‘keenest’ ahead of the upcoming window.
The Latest: Everton still eyeing Ndiaye
According to Football Insider, Everton do indeed ‘remain interested’ in trying to strike a deal for Ndiaye after their failed attempt at the start of the New Year.
The Blades ‘want to keep’ their maestro and are ‘confident’ of reaching an agreement over a contract extension, but understandably their position will become ‘vulnerable’ should they still find themselves in the Championship beyond the summer.
If Sheffield United aren’t able to meet his demands, it’s expected that they ‘could be forced’ to accept any offer that arrives at their door within the region of just £10-15m, considerably lower than the amount that was turned down in January.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Ndiaye has previously been labelled ‘stunning’ by journalist Josh Bunting, and should the opportunity to sign him arise in the next window, Everton have a no-brainer of a decision to make.
The Rouen native has racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 36 second-tier appearances so far this season and would add plenty of versatility to the squad with his ability to play in six different positions.
The Senegalese, however, is also equally as strong in the defensive aspect of his game, where he currently ranks in the 98th percentile for most tackles and blocks made per 90 minutes by players in his position.
Ndiaye already has an existing relationship with Idrissa Gueye as the two of them are international teammates for Aliou Cisse’s side, so this could potentially give the Toffees an advantage should they make another attempt to sign him in the months ahead.