Former Premier League stars Alan Smith and Colin Hendry have backed David Moyes' handling of Iliman Ndiaye's contract standoff at Everton, with Smith praising the manager's man-management skills and Hendry urging patience from the player.
Contract Talks Stalled Despite Improved Offer
Everton have been in talks with Ndiaye since the start of 2026 over a new deal on improved wages, rewarding his form since his £15 million move from Olympique Marseille in July 2024. However, according to The Athletic on June 2, his camp has rejected multiple offers. The player is under contract until 2029, with a projected transfer value of around £70 million.
The ECHO's Joe Thomas reported that Ndiaye is on Manchester United's shortlist of summer targets, while the Daily Mail claims Arsenal and Manchester City are also admirers. Despite interest, Everton and manager David Moyes are unwilling to sell.
Ndiaye's Champions League Ambitions
In a recent interview with SPORTbible, Ndiaye expressed his desire to play Champions League football and reflected on Everton's season, saying: "You can speak individually, but when the whole team is not working, you can't really say this player is fatigued or not doing well."
Speaking via BestBettingSites.co.uk, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith commented: "Well, Ndiaye is entitled to want to leave if that's the case. He's entitled to run his contract down. But Everton have been good for him. I think it's given him a platform, and he's used it, not always, but he's a very exciting player when he's at it."
Smith Backs Moyes' Man-Management
Smith added: "If anybody can do the man-management to get him to stay, it's David Moyes. Whether Ndiaye thinks he's worth one of the top Champions League clubs, that's another matter. I'm not sure he is at the moment. So, yeah, we'll watch that space, I think."
Smith also highlighted areas for improvement: "It's not so much taking responsibility, I think, as maybe sharpening up his finishing. He loves getting involved, loves getting on the ball. Maybe that's the part of his game that he needs to work on. That finishing could take him to the next level. He loves taking on players. He's very skilful with the ball at his feet but the top players have a clinical nature and are full of goals, so he probably needs to develop that."
Everton Could Quadruple Investment
If Everton were to sell the 26-year-old, they could potentially more than quadruple their £15 million outlay. When asked about the prospect in April, Moyes told reporters: "He is the last person I would consider selling."
Former Blackburn Rovers captain Colin Hendry, who briefly played under Moyes at Preston North End in 2002, also weighed in via BestBettingSites.co.uk: "David Moyes can't reprimand the player because he's playing to his contract. So, it's not a case of reprimanding him or anything like that. But if he doesn't sign a new contract, then I'm assuming there will be a value put on his head."
Hendry Urges Patience
Hendry continued: "If somebody comes along and values him as much as Everton does, then Moyes and the club will probably get an agreement put in place. But I would think that there would be a price and there would be a certain degree of negotiations going on. I get the Champions League thing, and I get playing for a bigger club. But a little bit of patience sometimes as a player doesn't go amiss."
