Marseille midfielder Iliman Ndiaye is ready to join Everton this summer and has expressed his willingness to move to the Goodison Park club, according to French outlet Massilia Zone .
The Toffees tabled a bid for the Senegalese international yesterday, but it was swiftly knocked back by the Ligue 1 club as it was not deemed acceptable.
Everton and Ndiaye are yet to reach an agreement over personal terms, but the Merseysiders have been made to understand that he is very much open to the switch.
🚨INFO MZ
➡️L'OM a refusé une première offre d'Everton pour Iliman Ndiaye aujourd'hui.
➡L’international sénégalais a bien donné son OK pour rejoindre les Toffees qui sont très intéressés, mais pas d'accord concret sur les termes personnels .
➡️La décision finale de conserver… pic.twitter.com/0mEfpEfcW6
— Massilia Zone (@MassiliaZone) June 20, 2024
Soon-to-be Marseille new manager Roberto De Zerbi will have a huge say on the final decision regarding the future of the former Sheffield United star at the Stade Velodrome club, but it appears Everton have a chance of finally landing their man having had him on their radar for a while.
The 24-year-old ended 2023-24 with three goals and three assists in 30 league appearances after ending 2022-23 with 14 goals and ten assists in 46 games for the Blades in the Championship.
A return to England where Everton are offering him a chance to play Premier League football is appealing to Ndiaye, and he could costly slightly over the £20 million Marseille paid for his services last summer.
The Toffees have to make a major sale before the end of the month given their need to stay within the confines of the Profitability and Sustainability rules, but that is not stopping them from completing a deal for the Senegalese attacker as soon as possible.
His versatility is a key factor which has attracted Everton, and manager Sean Dyche could do with such a player within his ranks.
Ndiaye can play across the forward line and behind the striker, and his defensive contributions coupled with his dribbling and passing skills should see him lit up Goodison Park should a deal get done.
