Everton playmaker Iliman Ndiaye is widely regarded as one of the most talented and skilful players in the Premier League.
Iliman Ndiaye, who joined Everton in a £15m deal from Marseille in 2024, has quickly established himself as a talisman for the Toffees.
Idrissa Gana Gueye reckons Ndiaye is good enough to win the Ballon d’Or one day, that’s how highly he’s rated around Finch Farm.
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Surely Everton must hand him a new contract!
It’s pretty remarkable to think that the 25-year-old was playing in non-league not too long ago with Hyde United.
Now, speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Ndiaye’s former Hyde manager David McGurk spoke about how good he was during his short loan spell at the Manchester-based club.
Hyde United players couldn’t believe Iliman Ndiaye was playing in non-league
McGurk explained that his Hyde players couldn’t quite believe Ndiaye was playing with them in non-league.
They even had to change the rules in training, as some of the drills they were doing were far too easy for the Senegal international.
“We knew we were really lucky to get Iliman,” McGurk told the Liverpool Echo.
“We’d been trying to sign him for a couple of months but Sheffield United were trying to get him loaned out to a higher level.
“I think we got him on deadline day because there were no other options but from the moment he came in he was way above our level and you could tell that from the very first training session. The lads were kind of like: ‘Wow, who’s this kid?’
Is Iliman Ndiaye Everton’s best player?
“That was just on a skill level but what also impressed the squad and myself over the next few weeks was his mentality and the fact that he was prepared to work hard. He embraced the situation and there were no airs and graces about him.”
McGurk continued: “We were doing a warm-up before a practice game and the lads had to keep the ball up between them and run to the halfway line in groups of five but Iliman put the ball on his head and ran across the pitch with it still up there meaning we had to change the rules after that because we thought he’s so good he’s taking the p*** out of us!”
David Moyes rules out Iliman Ndiaye sale
Moyes responded to speculation that Everton have had offers for Ndiaye in his pre-match Aston Villa press conference.
The Scotsman said: “Absolutely no truth in that. If there is, then I don’t know anything about it, that’s for sure.
“We’ve got no intention of letting Ili go. None whatsoever. By the way, I’m sure there’s a price for every player on the planet if you look around.
“If you’re asking me, we’ve got no intention of selling Ili.”
Ndiaye has been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan, but clearly, the Friedkins won’t be sanctioning his sale this winter.
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