Tony Bellew Fears Summer Bid for Ndiaye at Everton
Tony Bellew is praying Everton keep hold of ndiaye this summer after saying he would hate to see a “silly money bid” land for the forward. The former cruiserweight world champion and Everton supporter said Iliman Ndiaye has been exceptional and warned the club cannot afford to lose one of their sharpest players.
Hill Dickinson Stadium and Everton
Everton host Manchester City on Monday night in their penultimate home game of the season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Bellew sees the club’s European push and Ndiaye’s future as linked. Everton have been out of continental competition since 2017, but Bellew said they may need to win at least a couple of their final four matches to get back there.
That makes Ndiaye a central piece of the run-in. He scored both goals in Everton’s 2-0 win over Southampton at Goodison Park and also opened the scoring at Hill Dickinson Stadium when Brighton & Hove Albion were beaten 2-0. His opener against Liverpool in Everton’s last home game was ruled out for offside, another reminder of how often he has shaped their sharpest moments in front of goal.
David Moyes on Ndiaye
Moyes has already drawn a line through any sale. Last month, in a pre-match press conference for the 2-2 draw at Brentford, he said of Ndiaye: “He is the last person I would consider selling.” That stance sits neatly alongside Bellew’s warning, because Everton’s most productive attacker is also the player they appear least willing to move on.
Bellew went further in praise of the 43-year-old manager’s squad plans. He said he would take back Richarlison “In a heartbeat” if Tottenham Hotspur are relegated, and also added: “If Spurs go down that club is getting absolutely raided.” He singled out Micky van de Ven as “some player” and described Jack Grealish as “the most fouled player in the league, which tells a story in itself.”
City, Spurs and Everton
The immediate pressure sits on two fronts: Manchester City on Monday night, then the final four matches that Bellew says will decide whether Everton can get back into Europe. He said the deciding games now are Spurs away and home to Sunderland, but the summer market will hover over Ndiaye long before then. Bellew’s message was blunt: Everton need results now, and they need their best attacking outlet to stay put while they chase them.
