Report: Everton star could make controversial Liverpool switch | OneFootball

Liverpool Eye Iliman Ndiaye in Bold Merseyside Shift

Liverpool’s search for life after Mohamed Salah has already begun to take on a fascinating shape, with fresh reporting from TEAMtalk pointing towards a potentially historic move across Stanley Park. The idea that Liverpool could target Iliman Ndiaye from Everton is enough to raise eyebrows, but it also reflects a club preparing for a decisive tactical reset.

Salah Exit Sparks Recruitment Acceleration

“It was confirmed on Tuesday night that Salah would depart Anfield at the end of the season,” a moment that reshapes Liverpool’s attacking identity. Few players have defined an era quite like Salah, and replacing him is less about replication and more about reinvention.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s recruitment team appear to have anticipated this shift early. Plans “have effectively been in place from virtually the very moment he signed his record-breaking new deal at the club in April 2025.” That foresight now feels crucial, with the club moving swiftly through an evolving shortlist.

Names such as Francisco Conceicao and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande underline a preference for dynamism and flexibility, yet it is Ndiaye who introduces a more provocative narrative.

Ndiaye Emerges as Intriguing Candidate

Ndiaye’s appeal lies in his adaptability. As noted, “The 26-year-old’s ability to operate across the frontline, combined with his effectiveness from the right, has made him an increasingly attractive option.”

Six goals and three assists during Everton’s campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium hint at a player growing into his role, while his directness offers a stylistic contrast to Salah’s precision. Ndiaye plays with a looseness, an improvisational quality that could refresh Liverpool’s attack.

There is also a practical element. Liverpool’s pursuit of Michael Olise and PSG pair Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola has been rebuffed, with “not for sale” responses forcing a recalibration. Ndiaye represents a more attainable solution, albeit one loaded with emotional and political weight.

Cross City Dynamics Add Tension

Transfers between Liverpool and Everton are rare, almost taboo. The report makes it clear that “any move would need to be hugely significant,” and Everton’s stance is equally firm.

“We’ve also had it made clear to us that the Toffees have absoluely no intention of allowing their star attraction to depart and particularly not to their cross-city rivals.”

That resistance is understandable. Ndiaye is under contract until 2029, and Everton are even considering improved terms. Liverpool’s interest, however, introduces pressure, not just financial but symbolic.

Wider Market Competition Builds

Liverpool are not alone. Manchester United are also monitoring Ndiaye, viewing him as a “versatile forward” option as they reshape their attack.

Meanwhile, Juventus remain attentive, though their financial limitations may restrict their involvement. This convergence of interest elevates Ndiaye’s profile and complicates Liverpool’s pursuit.

What emerges is a club navigating the delicate balance between ambition and realism. Ndiaye may not carry Salah’s global stature, but he offers something different, something perhaps necessary as Liverpool enter a new phase.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report lands somewhere between intriguing and slightly uneasy. Replacing Salah is not about finding another Salah, it is about redefining how Liverpool attack. Ndiaye feels like a stylistic pivot rather than a direct successor.

There is a clear logic in targeting a player already proven in the Premier League. Ndiaye’s ability to carry the ball, commit defenders and operate across the frontline fits a squad that has sometimes looked predictable in possession. A more chaotic attacking presence could actually benefit players around him.

However, the Everton angle complicates everything. Even if the deal were financially possible, the emotional fallout would be significant. Supporters on both sides would scrutinise every touch, every missed chance, every moment of brilliance. It adds pressure that Liverpool do not necessarily need during a transitional period.

There is also the question of ceiling. Ndiaye is performing well, but does he project as a player capable of leading Liverpool’s attack in the Champions League knockout stages or in title defining matches? That remains uncertain.

Ultimately, this feels like one option among many rather than a definitive solution. Liverpool’s recruitment team will need to get this decision right, because replacing a figure like Salah shapes not just a season, but an entire era.