The Senegal international has silenced doubters with his recent performances and the club will be hoping there are no complications before the transfer window shuts.
Back in June, when it became known that Ndiaye had rejected multiple contract renewal proposals since the start of the year, this writer witnessed Manchester United supporters expressing delight at the possibility of him joining them at Old Trafford after being informed by an intermediary that he was available if they wanted him.
Everton have consistently maintained that their nimble-footed star is unavailable for transfer, with manager David Moyes repeating this stance before the Brentford fixture on Grand National Day, stating that selling his key player was unthinkable and would not progress past initial discussions. While the player was on his post-World Cup break after representing Senegal, reports indicated that Ndiaye had reached an agreement on a lucrative package with Al Hilal.
His father subsequently dismissed these claims, stating after speaking with his son that he is remaining put, while noting that while substantial earnings were possible there, his son believed his performance level could diminish. He does not prioritise financial gain over his professional development.
Everton FA Cup-winning legend Anders Limpar commented to the ECHO that wealthy players have sufficient resources already, questioning the logic of moving to Saudi Arabia at 26 rather than later in one’s career when Premier League intensity becomes harder to maintain.
Someone who is 36 and has joined newly promoted Diriyah Club in Saudi Arabia, Idrissa Gueye, responded to an Everton post showing Ndiaye joining his teammates at their German training base with a message confirming his commitment and a blue love heart emoji.
Regardless of future developments, Ndiaye holds a unique position in Everton’s record books as the scorer of their last goal at Goodison Park and first at Hill Dickinson Stadium, so supporters who have been disappointed too many times previously when the club sold popular players must hope this resolve continues if rivals closer to home make late approaches offering Champions League football, which the former Olympique Marseille player indicated he desires in pre-World Cup interviews.
As demonstrated by their failure to secure Jarrad Branthwaite two summers ago, the era when Manchester United could simply take whoever they wanted from Everton, whether Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku, or even Moyes himself, though Jose Mourinho’s new Netflix documentary offers fresh perspective on the Blues manager being selected by Sir Alex Ferguson as his handpicked successor at a meeting at the Scot’s home, should now be finished. United are no longer the dominant force they once were and Everton now operate from a stronger financial position under The Friedkin Group’s ownership.
Having returned to action as a substitute in Stuttgart, Ndiaye has begun the last two friendly matches and converted penalties in both. While he has always been composed from 12 yards with a perfect record from five attempts in competitive fixtures, his improved open-play contributions have been particularly promising.
Everton might have secured European competition, which Ndiaye desires, had he been more composed in several one-on-one situations against goalkeepers during the closing weeks of last term. Building on his encouraging performance in the victory over Premier League side Newcastle at Murrayfield, he raised his level further against Lille.
Operating from his preferred left flank where he excelled consistently during the final season at Goodison Park, despite his low centre of gravity making him a formidable opponent, the Rouen-born talent stands out significantly for his ability with the ball. His body feints and clever distribution returned to leave his Ligue 1 opponents exposed, and it was only when Ndiaye and his colleagues departed following seven simultaneous substitutions just before the hour mark that control shifted, with Everton’s fringe players completing the match in a less cohesive manner.
While the squad still lacks quality depth at full-back positions, a situation Moyes did not face during his first spell when he had Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman at their peak, suddenly Everton possess four promising options in wide areas, which is appropriate given Premier League clubs require multiple quality choices in each position.
Tyrique George, primarily used from the bench during his loan spell in the second half of last season, has raised his game during the pre-season matches and was rewarded for several strong showings with his first goal for the club in the victory over Newcastle. Tyler Dibling continues seeking his breakthrough moment after being denied by Lille goalkeeper Berke Ozer tipping his effort over the crossbar, though glimpses of the significant potential he demonstrated at Southampton, which earned him his substantial transfer last summer, are now beginning to emerge.
Then, introduced from the bench, Brennan Johnson made his Everton debut and demonstrated the rapid pace that makes him such a danger. His time at Selhurst Park did not work out, though Crystal Palace’s wing-back system could potentially suit him, but having been a consistent scorer for both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, the 25-year-old’s brief appearance indicates potential to recapture his scoring form on Merseyside.
All this combined suggests that if there are no further departures in this position before the transfer window closes, with Johnson having arrived in exchange for Dwight McNeil, Everton might resist pursuing Jack Grealish’s return and allocate resources elsewhere. The ability to forgo a second stint at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first £100million English player could potentially help Everton finalise their essential acquisition of a new right-back.