View: TFG risk wasting Everton goodwill if they sell £70m ace to PL rivals

Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye is attracting fresh attention from Manchester United.

The in-form 26-year-old has scored six goals and registered three assists in the Premier League this season, making him one of the top-flight’s best performers.

He has proven himself at an elite level time and again, and now, United are set to spring a transfer offensive which could prove difficult to turn down at the end of the campaign.

As a result, The Friedkin Group must prepare to dig their heels in, with the interest from Old Trafford set to determine whether the owners really are serious about their ambitions.

Regardless, Ndiaye’s future at Everton is uncertain, and that will worry David Moyes.

Everton squad want Iliman Ndiaye to stay

Ndiaye is the one player Everton cannot afford to lose. He has been consistent since arriving on Merseyside in July 2024 and is now matching Mohamed Salah’s numbers at Liverpool.

Clearly, he cannot be easily replaced, and it appears his team-mates are acutely aware.

Answering questions on The Blue Room’s TikTok recently, Michael Keane was quizzed on his favourite current Toffees ace to watch. His reply will not surprise supporters.

“My favourite current player to watch is Illy [Iliman Ndiaye],” said Keane. “His skills and his goals, yeah, he makes it exciting.” Some may even argue that is an understatement.

A reported £65million price tag has been slapped on Ndiaye, but really, the Merseyside outfit won’t be able to measure his value if he leads them to European football next season.

While the talisman insisted in January that he is happy at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Moyes will be wary of losing him, especially if United follow up their pursuit with a concrete bid.

Friedkin Group promises put to the test

The Friedkin Group will back Moyes to the tune of £100m if the Toffees qualify for a European competition, with a major summer spending spree on the horizon.

But it will all mean nothing if they allow their best players to slip through their fingers.

Both James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite are also on the radar of multiple clubs, and surrendering them, likely to top-flight rivals, will only damage the ownership’s reputation.

The American group have got off to a strong start, having steadied the finances and thrown their weight behind Moyes, but it doesn’t take much to squander goodwill.

Keeping Ndiaye, then, is absolutely paramount.

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