Following a dismal 2025/26 Premier League campaign, during which they failed to qualify for Europe after finishing 10th, Chelsea have been sent back to the drawing board ahead of next season.
Both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior failed to inspire the Blues as their season petered out into a damp squib. However, their scouting team has been working fastidiously to find ways to build upon their faults.
One player who Chelsea are thought to be ‘seriously’ pursuing is Everton star Iliman Ndiaye, according to a report from journalist Simon Phillips. As we previously reported, the Blues aren’t alone in their pursuit – Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have also been linked with a move for the player over the last few weeks.
Ndiaye is not Chelsea’s number one attacking target – they would prefer a move for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but they are aware that this might be unrealistic due to their current standing in the footballing pyramid.
Rogers has other potential suitors who are much more likely to sign him, such as Arsenal and Manchester United – according to an exclusive report with Arsenal Roundtable, Rogers’ preferred destination would be the Emirates Stadium as things stand.
As such, Chelsea have been forced to pursue other targets, with Ndiaye identified as an acceptable backup option. The upcoming summer is crucial for the Blues – is Ndiaye the right player for them?
Iliman Ndiaye Premier League stats since joining Everton
Games Goals Assists Yellow Cards Red Cards
Iliman Ndiaye 65 15 3 5 0
On the face of it, Ndiaye’s stats at Everton seem to give the impression of a player who can score goals, but isn’t especially creative – on these stats alone, one might even brand the Senegalese international as selfish.
This isn’t necessarily the case. David Moyes generally plays a safety-first, defensive style of football in which Ndiaye isn’t given much support going forwards. He is often asked to do plenty of defensive dirty work – which, to his credit, he is often happy to perform.
Chelsea, since the turn of the millenium, have become characterised as a somewhat defensive football club. Indeed, many of their best managers have often played a cautious style of play – namely, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, both of whom brought the Premier League title to Stamford Bridge.
How could Iliman Ndiaye improve Chelsea’s squad?
Chelsea have plenty of attacking options at their disposal, but not many of them are particularly inspiring – some of them have been outright poor since they joined the club. Ndiaye, with his respectable goal record, would likely be an improvement upon a considerable portion of them.
It is unclear what style of play Xabi Alonso will play at Chelsea, following his recent arrival at the club, but one can expect him to apply his usual approach of high-pressing – furthermore, he also likes to field players who can occupy multiple positions.
Ndiaye, an ambidextrous player, can function effectively on either wing. On top of this, he can also play as an attacking midfielder or even as an out-and out striker.