Everton’s summer was an intriguing one, as Kevin Thelwell set about improving a team that had just endured its second straight relegation battle with a shoestring budget.
Likely envisioning a reality in which they were punished for their financial misconduct, he knew that the window could not pile onto their problems with additional big-money signings.
So, with the sales of Tom Cannon, Alex Iwobi, Ellis Simms and more, some wiggle room was forged.
Then, the likes of Beto and Youssef Chermiti offered ample cover alongside shrewd loans and free transfers.
Such was the fiscal constraints they worked under, naturally the Toffees had to miss out on key targets. One such example was with Iliman Ndiaye, who reports suggested they had targeted.
Instead opting for Marseille in a £20m move, journalist Alan Nixon is now suggesting that Sean Dyche could now return to rescue the forward from his French hellscape.
After all, they are one of many Premier League teams reportedly interested, as he writes: ‘United are keeping an eye on developments but others like Crystal Palace and Everton are also keen.’
How good is Iliman Ndiaye?
Although goals have finally arrived at Everton after months of profligacy halted their progress, the introduction of Ndiaye would certainly not go amiss.
As a slightly smaller striker, his role last season in feeding off the scraps Oli McBurnie would leave led the 23-year-old to thrive in the Championship, finishing the league season on 14 goals and 11 assists.
Although his time in France has not been ideal, perhaps a return to England could reignite his promising career, with the likes of Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye only set to ease his integration given their Senegalese heritage, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin a stark increase on his former strike partner.
That is, despite Ndiaye still managing to find the net once, assisting a further three in Ligue 1.
After all, it was not that long ago that he was terrorising the division below, with former coach Paul Lester claiming: ‘He does things you can’t coach. He’s so natural, the way he deals with the ball. Beautifully balanced and poised.’
Well, perhaps Goodison Park could provide the next stage for the continuation of a career that could easily still be revived. With what Dyche has done for some of his current stars, as Abdoulaye Doucoure and Vitaliy Mykolenko will attest, there is every reason to expect such an outcome.
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