Al-Hilal Pushes for Ndiaye as Everton Holds Out for Nearly €100M

Everton might be about to lose the one guy who made their attack worth watching last season. Iliman Ndiaye, the Senegal international who spent most of the year dragging defenders out of position and winning balls he had no business winning, is reportedly close to a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal.

According to Sky Sport Switzerland, the two clubs are deep in negotiations. Everton wants €80 million up front with another €15 million in add-ons. Al-Hilal is trying to get the number lower, but there’s a sense both sides expect to land on a figure that works. Ndiaye is already talking personal terms. His wage demands at Hill Dickinson Stadium are steep, but reportedly doable for the Saudi club.

What Everton Would Be Losing

This isn’t just any player walking out the door. Ndiaye put up six goals and three assists in 32 Premier League appearances last season. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but his real value showed up in the stuff that doesn’t always hit the stat sheet.

He attempted 147 take-ons, more than anyone else on the team. He contested 409 duels, also a team high. And he recovered possession in the final third 26 times, which led the squad. David Moyes leaned on Ndiaye heavily as the X-factor in attack, using him across multiple positions to create chaos for opposing defenses.

Finding a like-for-like replacement won’t be easy. There aren’t many players who combine that kind of dribbling volume with the defensive work rate Ndiaye brought. If Everton does sell, they need someone ready to produce immediately.

Possible Replacements Already On the Radar

One name that makes sense is Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe. The young English winger turned heads in Serie A last season, bagging eight goals and five assists across 44 appearances in all competitions. He’s not identical to Ndiaye, but he brings some of the same directness and creativity in the final third.

Other options the club should be looking at include Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Jean-Matteo Bahoya, both of whom could offer a different skill set without commanding the kind of fee that would drain the entire transfer budget.

Everton has not confirmed any deal, and Al-Hilal hasn’t made a formal announcement. But all signs point to this one getting done. The question now is whether the Toffees can land the right replacement before the window closes.