England and Everton midfielder Jack Grealish has revealed who he thinks is the 'most skilful' player in the Premier League right now. The 30-year-old has impressed this season, having joined the Toffees on loan.
Struggling for game time at Manchester City, Grealish swapped Pep Guardiola for David Moyes and appears to have found a new lease of life working under the latter. With four assists and two goals in 15 league outings with his loan club, the Englishman has long since surpassed his tally at the Etihad in the same competition last term (one goal and one assist).
At his best, Grealish played with an air of true confidence, gliding past players and opening up the game with his skill – and he's shown more consistent flashes of that at Everton. With that in mind, it's interesting to learn that he feels one of his new teammates is not only more skilful than him, but actually the number one player in the Premier League on that front.
Jack Grealish Has Been Blown Away By Everton's Iliman Ndiaye
Everton's Iliman Ndiaye and Everton's Jack Grealish walk onto the pitch at Anfield
Speaking to StanSport, a presenter asked Grealish: "Iliman Ndiaye is the most skilful player in the Premier League?" The Everton man thought about it, discussing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer but ultimately agreed, replying:
"In terms of pure skill, yeah. I'm not sitting here saying, 'oh yeah, he's the best,' but he could be the best... but skilful. Saka, for example, is so good, one of the best wingers in the world. But he's not skilful."
Everton teammate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was also part of the interview, and he agreed with the assessment, explaining why he felt that Ndiaye is more skilful than someone like Chelsea ace Cole Palmer. He said: "Yeah, but see, Cole... Cole's like... In terms of pure skill, like, you ain't gonna see Cole doing skills like anywhere, so I'm feeling that. Cole's just more silky and moving his body."
Jeremy Doku was also mentioned, with Grealish saying of his former Man City teammate:
"Like, Doku, for example, you wouldn't put him in, like, I don't know, a small five-a-side pitch. But Ndiaye wouldn't even need that space at all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No matter where he's in. He's just in and out, whereas Doku, like, you know, might need a bit of space for his, like, pace and stuff. Saka as well."
The presenter then asked the Englishman to confirm that he would agree that Ndiaye is the most skilful player in the Premier League, and Grealish replied: "Yeah, for sure."
Ndiaye Inspired by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
One player fans might be surprised not to see mentioned is Man City ace Rayan Cherki. Perhaps the former Lyon star slipped Grealish's mind, with the Englishman leaving at the same time as the Frenchman arrived in Manchester.
For many, Cherki is viewed among the most skilful players in the world right now. The 22-year-old has quickly made a name for himself in the Premier League, and cuaght the eye with a delightful Rabona assist in the 3-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland earlier on in December.
For now, though, Ndiaye remains the number one man in Grealish's eyes. The Senegal international has thanked his dad – who was a choreographer – for helping him develop his skills as a youngster, while citing players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele as direct inspirations he aimed to emulate.