Everton in the Champions League? Sheffield Utd have played a key role | OneFootball

Iliman Ndiaye was a key figure for Sheffield United when they earned promotion to the Premier League in 2023

Iliman Ndiaye’s Sheffield United career showed immense promise before he made the move to Marseille in the 2023 summer transfer window.

The Senegal international was key to the team earning automatic promotion to the Premier League under Paul Heckingbottom, contributing 14 goals and 10 assists.

But he was sold even with a place in the top flight on offer, making the switch to the French giants in a deal worth £20 million.

The Yorkshire outfit were unable to adequately replace the forward, and they ultimately suffered relegation straight back to the Championship the following campaign.

Meanwhile, Ndiaye had a solid, if unspectacular year in France, where he registered three goals and three assists for Marseille as they finished eighth in the table.

His time with the European club came to an end after just one season, with the former Sheffield United star moving back to English football in a £15 million move to Everton.

Everton have Sheffield United to thank for Champions League fight

Ndiaye has gone from strength to strength with Everton since joining the club, and the Toffees will have Sheffield United to thank if they can clinch a place in the Champions League for next season.

David Moyes’ side are now just three points behind fifth-place Liverpool, and it’s highly likely that this will be enough to secure a place in the premier continental competition due to England’s coefficient advantage.

The 26-year-old has become a focal point of the team’s attack in the last two years, contributing 15 goals and three assists in the Premier League.

And it was his development at Bramall Lane that helped get him ready for life in the top flight, as he enjoyed two strong years in English football prior to his move to the Merseyside outfit.

His first proper season with the Blades showed plenty of potential, as he scored seven times as the team reached the play-offs.

The forward initially burst onto the scene with a brace and an assist against Peterborough United in his first league appearance of 2021/22, whilst his solo goal against Fulham was seriously impressive.

But it was a run of four goals in five games from April to May 2022 that showed his talent, with the club ultimately missing out on promotion.

Ndiaye took his game to another level in 2022/23, with 14 goals and 10 assists, as Sheffield United won promotion, whilst also reaching the final four of the FA Cup. It was that jump that prepared him for life in the Premier League, via a brief stint with Marseille.

Sheffield United can take pride in Iliman Ndiaye’s rise

It will sting for Sheffield United supporters to see Ndiaye’s impressive form for Everton in the Premier League, particularly as they had earned their place in the division when he left.

However, the forward’s rise to prominence should also be a badge of pride for fans and for the club itself.

Being able to develop talent like Ndiaye can help attract other young players to Bramall Lane in the hopes of emulating his success.

The 26-year-old is now also being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in recent months in what would surely be a big money deal.

But if Everton can qualify for the Champions League, then that could prove quite persuasive in terms of keeping him at the club longer-term.

The Toffees will be grateful for the growth and development that Ndiaye experienced at Sheffield United, as it is his performances that could bridge that three-point gap to Liverpool.

He showed that quite plainly prior to the March international break when he scored an impressive goal in a 3-0 victory over Chelsea.

A crucial Merseyside derby in April will be Ndiaye’s next chance to make an immediate impact on the top five race against a rival team, and he could even etch his name in Everton folklore if he can replicate his performance against the Blues when Liverpool come to the Hill Dickinson stadium.