Senegal international winger Ndiaye is one of two Everton players now back available after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, both with winners' medals around their necks.placeholder image
Senegal international winger Ndiaye is one of two Everton players now back available after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, both with winners' medals around their necks. | AFP via Getty Images
Man United need to fill a few gaps in their squad with one of the Premier League’s best wingers on their radar.
Manchester United should have learned their lesson from lurching from on manager to the next, each with their own different style of play and philosophy.
What hasn’t helped Michael Carrick and his desire to play with wingers is that four left Old Trafford last summer and none of them were replaced. The quality of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford (before he left) can be questioned, however, the options that the current manager has are slim, to say the least.
Arsenal join Man United in ‘battle’ for Iliman Ndiaye
It looks like it is an imbalance that the recruitment team will address in the summer. RB Leipzig flyer Yan Diomande is one target who has been linked at length with a transfer valuation in the region of £80m said to be needed to secure his services. Another, more local target, is reported to be Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, who has already commented on speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford.
According to TEAMtalk, another Premier League team has joined the race for the Senegal international and African Cup of Nations winner: “Arsenal are ‘ready to battle’ United for the signing, but it is the Red Devils who are leading the charge. Some reports have tipped INEOS to greenlight Marcus Rashford’s return this summer now that former head coach Ruben Amorim has departed.
“However, our sources state that United have no intention of reuniting with the Barcelona loanee, as they are instead focusing on a stunning new attacking signing – with Ndiaye emerging as a primary target.”
If Ndiaye good enough for Man United?
Ndiaye would offer depth, but he has never consistently produced the sort of numbers that would excite United fans. This season, even as a key player for Everton, he has five goals and two assists in 22 games, hardly prolific. The Toffees original valuation of £70m is now closer to £50m by all accounts, which makes the deal more affordable, but it is still a lot of money for a player who has only scored five goals all season.
If Ndiaye’s role is to be a backup and they intend to sign Diomande too, then it would make more sense. He is consistent in terms of his level of performance and, in a more attack-minded team, he might score more goals and break the double-figures mark. The 25-year old is a talented player and an exciting dribbler, it just wouldn’t be worth entering a bidding war shoul Arsenal’s interest become more concrete.
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