Iliman Ndiaye transfer update at Everton may convince star to sign new contract - journo

Joe Thomas has admitted the signing of Iliman Ndiaye could tempt Dominic Calvert-Lewin into staying at Everton this summer.

The 27-year-old striker who has one year left on his contract at Goodison Park has been linked with a move away during the transfer window after previous interest from Newcastle United [The Telegraph, 23 May].

While the Toffees don’t appear to be any closer to agreeing on new terms with the England international, Liverpool Echo journalist Thomas thinks the opportunity to play with a genuine support striker could change his mind.

Speaking on The Royal Blue YouTube channel (8 July, 20:22) he said: “My only hope is that something that might change on that at the minute is that he comes in and Ilman Ndiaye is through the door.

“Then he’s got the opportunity to play in front of a genuine support striker there instead of Abdoulaye Doucoure who has done a fine job under Sean Dyche and obviously been pivotal to Everton staying in the Premier League the last two seasons.

“But he’s very much a centre-midfielder who has been playing out of position but has been exploited because of his physicality, his energy and his fitness levels almost doing a job and a half.

“If Calvert-Lewin knows he’s got a genuine support striker who is a bit more astute, a bit more savvy and a bit more skilful who could perhaps lay off chances to him that aren’t coming from balls being pelted to his from 40 yards, maybe staying might be more of an attractive proposition.

“That’s the key for me.”

Will Dominic Calvert-Lewin exit Everton amid Newcastle United transfer speculation?

Everton will not want to lose Calvert-Lewin at this stage of the summer transfer window as it would change the entire dynamic of their plan ahead of the new Premier League season.

The England international has been the Toffees’ most consistent source of goals over the last couple of seasons and there has been little to suggest either Youseff Chermiti or Beto could step into the fold if he were to leave.

As Thomas suggests, Calvert-Lewin doesn’t get much service from his teammates and is often left isolated at the top end of the pitch. With Ndiaye playing alongside him, however, maybe he will actually see more of the ball.

Whatever happens, the Toffees and the 27-year-old need to reach a decision over his future sooner rather than later as they can’t afford to have this contract standoff rumble on into the start of the new campaign.

In other Everton news, the Toffees could be set to command a fee of £100million for Jarrad Branthwaite next summer

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