Everton plot Iliman Ndiaye swoop

Everton are reportedly trying to put together a £15 million bid to sign Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye from Sheffield United.

According to The Sun, Everton are trying to raise funds in the region of £15 million out of their barren coffers to try and lure Senegalese World Cup star Iliman Ndiaye away from Championship high-flyers Sheffield United.

The Toffees are currently cash-strapped. But given the precarious financial ramifications of relegation, co-owner Farhad Moshiri could look to spend something this month to try and avoid the drop. Everton need to sign attackers in this window as they brace for an uphill struggle for survival in the second half of the season.

The lack of goals and attacking threat has been a major source of concern for Frank Lampard & co. all season. As such, Everton are close to announcing their first signing of the winter transfer window in Arnaut Danjuma, who will arrive on a straight loan deal from Villarreal.

Danjuma’s arrival will help the Toffees to some extent. But the Merseyside outfit still require another ruthless centre-forward to bolster their dire attack. They could also sell Anthony Gordon to raise funds to keep in line with Financial Fair Play while strengthening multiple areas of the squad.

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Everton have been linked with a whole host of names, from Duvan Zapata to Marko Arnautovic, among others. The latest name to emerge on their radar is Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye.

The 22-year-old had a breakthrough campaign at Bramall Lane last season. But he has been one of the first names on the team sheet for the Blades this term, recording ten goals and seven assists in 28 league games to propel Paul Heckingbottom’s side to second in the Championship table as they push for promotion. The Senegal international is proving to be a real attacking weapon for both club and country this term.

Having also represented his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the latter stages of last year and picking up an assist in the process, he has certainly done enough to put himself in the shop window this month.

While the South Yorkshire outfit are reluctant to sell him at this stage considering how crucial he could be to their promotion back to the top flight, they have been placed under a transfer embargo and need funds to resolve that issue amidst takeover talks underway behind the scenes. Furthermore, he has just 18 months left on his deal. And with that, this window may be the best opportunity for the Blades to sell him for a sizeable £15 million fee.

As we head into the final week of the January transfer window, it is safe to say time is running out for the Toffees to bolster their squad. They cannot afford to just sit or experiment with signings with a relegation fight looming large.

Everton need to get the recruitment absolutely spot on with the winter signings, as the incoming players will have to hit the ground running straight away. Thus, trying to sign an in-form striker like Ndiaye on a low-cost £15 million deal makes a lot of sense.