REVIEW: Everton may deploy £20m star in a new role following Iliman Ndiaye transfer

The signing of Iliman Ndiaye will provide Sean Dyche with an additional midfield option, potentially bolstering Everton’s squad.

Ndiaye officially became the club’s third summer recruit on Wednesday after joining from Marseille in a deal worth around £15m.

This signing adds further firepower to a unit that currently includes Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Youssef Chermiti, and the returning Neal Maupay. Ndiaye’s arrival could also address an area that grew increasingly problematic for Dyche as last season progressed.

Since his arrival at Goodison Park in late January last year, Dyche has consistently used his preferred 4-5-1 formation. The limited nature of his squad has made him reliant on a few key players to make the team function. One of these players has been Abdoulaye Doucoure, whose goals at the end of the 2022/23 season and the first half of the recent campaign were crucial in maintaining the club’s top-flight status, particularly his stunning effort against Bournemouth in the final day survival-clincher in May 2023.

Doucoure has signed two contract extensions since Dyche took over, having been brought back into the fold after falling out with former manager Frank Lampard. These new deals highlight his value to Dyche, which became evident when Everton embarked on a club record run without a Premier League win last season.

That four-month streak began when Doucoure was withdrawn with a hamstring injury during the win at Burnley—the final victory before the winless stretch commenced. As the Mali international struggled to recover and then suffered a second hamstring issue in quick succession, his dynamism was sorely missed during this challenging period.

The lack of cover for Doucoure was an issue Everton needed to address, and by signing Ndiaye, they have acquired a natural support striker who could thrive in the space behind a frontman such as Calvert-Lewin, whose future remains uncertain as he enters the final 12 months of his deal. He has been offered new terms.

Ndiaye’s arrival should enhance the Blues in his preferred position while allowing Doucoure to drop deeper into central midfield, where he has spent most of his career. The 31-year-old, who joined from Watford in a £20m deal, will thus provide competition and cover for Ndiaye while also vying for a spot in the midfield alongside Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye, James Garner, and new signing Tim Iroegbunam.

This advantage is particularly significant for Dyche given the uncertainty surrounding Onana’s future, with the Belgium international being targeted by several clubs across Europe. Additionally, the departures of Andre Gomes and Lewis Warrington this summer have left gaps that need to be filled.