While David Moyes` return might have lifted spirits at Everton, the true standout this season has been Iliman Ndiaye. The Senegalese player has had a brilliant first year at the club.
In a team that often relies on hard work, the 25-year-old is clearly the player who makes things happen, frequently producing moments of brilliance, such as his stunning two goals during an emotional farewell match at Goodison Park last month.
The way the former Marseille player skillfully dribbles past multiple defenders is truly impressive. As Jordan Campbell of The Athletic noted earlier in the season, he`s the kind of player who can `change an entire mood` at a club.
Looking ahead to a more promising future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, this £15m signing should ideally be a key figure in the new era under Moyes. Similarly, recruiting players with comparable qualities should be a priority this summer.
Latest on Everton`s Search for New Signings
Significant changes are happening at Everton, including the upcoming move from Goodison Park. The end of the Premier League season has also led to many players leaving as their contracts expire, including Ashley Young, João Virginia, and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
This wave of departures also includes loan players like Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala, and Armando Broja returning to their clubs. However, Charly Alcaraz`s temporary move is expected to become permanent for about €15m (£13m).
The potential signing of the young South American talent could be followed by another interesting acquisition soon. According to the Daily Mail, Everton have reportedly started exploring a move for Manchester City`s James McAtee, having `made checks` on the player.
The report adds that Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also monitoring the promising English midfielder. Several Bundesliga clubs, particularly Bayer Leverkusen, are also said to be interested.
The 22-year-old, who is reportedly valued at £25m, appears likely to leave Manchester City due to limited playing opportunities. Everton could be an ideal destination for him this summer, just as it has proven to be for Ndiaye.
Why Everton Should Sign James McAtee
While Iliman Ndiaye`s £15m fee wasn`t excessively risky for Everton, the move was still somewhat of a gamble given his challenging time at Marseille previously, where he scored only four goals in 46 Ligue 1 appearances.
Everton were essentially hoping the then 24-year-old could recapture the form he showed before his 2023 transfer. He had been a star in the Championship for Sheffield United, contributing 36 goals and assists in 88 matches.
To the pleasure of everyone at Goodison Park, he has successfully repeated that impressive form for Everton. Ndiaye finished the 2024/25 season with 11 goals across all competitions, surpassing Beto as the club`s leading scorer.
This gamble has paid off significantly, suggesting that signing McAtee could yield similar positive results. The England U21 international also performed exceptionally well during his two loan periods at Sheffield.
From 2022 to 2024, the elegant playmaker achieved 22 goals and assists in 75 appearances at Bramall Lane. This included nine goals and three assists in the 2022/23 Championship season, where Ndiaye, playing alongside him, contributed 14 goals and 11 assists in the same league.
| McAtee`s record – last 365 days | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Record (per 90) | Ranking* |
| Non-penalty goals | 0.78 | Top 1% |
| Shots | 3.53 | Top 6% |
| Assists | 0.00 | Bottom 1% |
| Shot-creating actions | 1.96 | Bottom 1% |
| Pass completion | 80.7% | Top 22% |
| Progressive passes | 3.33 | Bottom 40% |
| Progressive carries | 2.55 | Bottom 29% |
| Touches in opposition box | 5.88 | Top 18% |
| Progressive passes received | 9.22 | Top 28% |
| Tackles | 1.96 | Top 11% |
| Interceptions | 0.39 | Bottom 41% |
| Blocks | 1.96 | Top 1% |
| *vs attacking mid/wingers in Europe`s top 5 leagues | ||
Pep Guardiola once called McAtee `a special player` when he was in Manchester. Since then, McAtee has had limited opportunities with City, although he still managed to score seven goals from just nine starts across all competitions this season.
