Everton star Iliman Ndiaye clapping, David Moyes in inset.
Credit: Imago
Declan Carr
Wed 19 November 2025 18:10, UK
Everton boss David Moyes is not thrilled by the idea of playing Iliman Ndiaye up front.
Ndiaye has been mooted as the solution to Everton’s attacking woes, with Beto and Thierno Barry struggling to score.
The idea is that Ndiaye could thrive in a more central role, and add to the four goals and one assist that he has already picked up, per Sofascore.
While the Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit needs to score more often, the Liverpool Echo‘s Joe Thomas claimed on 19 November Scotsman does not believe that the Senegal star is the answer.
Iliman Ndiaye's Premier League stats for Everton this season.
Credit: Sofascore
David Moyes does not want to switch Iliman Ndiaye’s position
While a switch makes sense for Moyes‘ side, as Ndiaye has experience as a number nine in his time with Sheffield United.
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He notched 14 goals and 11 assists in the 2022-23 season in the role, but Moyes is unconvinced that it will get the best out of the 25-year-old.
Thomas states that, given his exploits on the wing, the manager is hoping that the form of his strikers does not force him into moving Ndiaye.
Why Ndiaye’s exploits for Everton are even more impressive
It makes sense that the manager is not willing to switch his star player into a new position, as he has been so good on the right flank.
His performances are even more impressive given the fact that he has been shifted to that wing from the left, to accommodate Jack Grealish’s addition to the Blues squad.
Grealish is the focus of Everton’s attacking play
57.1 per cent of the Toffees’ chances are created on his side on the pitch
The England hopeful has notched one goal and four assists in 10 top-flight games
The Manchester City man enjoys the lion’s share of the attacking burden, with just 18.2 per cent of the Toffees’ chances coming down Ndiaye’s side.
No team in the Premier League has been less productive in any third of the pitch, but the former Marseille man is still finding a way to make an impact on matches.
There is no guarentee that moving him into the number nine position would pay off, and while he is thriving in a new role, it does not make sense to do so.
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