David Moyes has been discussing Iliman Ndiaye in his pre-match press conference to preview Everton's game with Fulham
David Moyes insists Everton have “no intention” of letting Iliman Ndiaye go as he declared his in-form star fit for Saturday’s showdown with Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Athletic reported that Champions League finalists Internazionale had failed with a £40million bid for the Blues’ top scorer last season with 11 goals in before the summer transfer window closed.
And he continues to catch the eye this term with his brilliant solo goal in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland his fourth of the campaign.
Ndiaye was then forced out of the action midway through the second half at the Stadium of Light, but Moyes has declared him fit and wants to keep him in the side going forward.
The Everton manager said: “He’s fine. He’s trained today, so hopefully everything is okay.
“I don’t really see the speculation because I’m not looking probably. I think he’s got a three-and-a-half year deal here, maybe more, so it’s something that we’re fully aware of and he’s playing really well.
“It would be wrong for teams not to talk about him because of his form.
“Here at Everton we’re building a team and we want to build with players like Ili, so we’ve got no intention of letting him go, that’s for sure.”
In contrast to Ndiaye, Everton’s strikers continue to labour with Beto having netted just once in the Premier League all season and Thierno Barry, a £27m summer signing from Villarreal yet to break his duck having missed a sitter that could have doubled the Blues’ lead in Wearside.
While Moyes wants to support his frontmen, he admits they need to start delivering at some stage.
He said: “I think we’re all wanting our centre-forwards to score goals.
“I think when I came in last season, nobody expected Beto to score any goals but Beto did fantastically well and probably helped make sure we were a Premier League team by his goals and the opportunities that he made in the second half of last year.
“So, we’re not going to give up on them right away, but we’re putting them under pressure to score goals as well.
“We need to give them a bit of confidence, a bit of belief, but they have to give something back as well, they have to show what they can do to get the jersey.”