Everton's on-loan star Jack Grealish has made a surprising claim, naming his Toffees teammate Iliman Ndiaye as the most skilful player in the entire Premier League.
Grealish's Verdict on Premier League Talent
In a revealing assessment, the England international deliberately overlooked high-profile stars from his former club Manchester City and title rivals Arsenal. Instead, Grealish pointed to the Senegalese playmaker Iliman Ndiaye, who joined Everton from Sheffield United for £20million, as the division's standout technician.
"In terms of pure skill, yeah," Grealish stated. "I'm not sitting here saying, 'oh yeah, he's the best,' but he could be the best... but skilful. Saka, for example, is so good, one of the best wingers in the world. But he's not skilful."
Why Ndiaye Trumps Saka and Doku
Grealish expanded on his reasoning, explaining why he believes Ndiaye's ability surpasses that of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and his former Manchester City colleague Jeremy Doku. He used the analogy of a small five-a-side pitch to illustrate his point.
"Like, Doku, for example, you wouldn't put him in, like, I don't know, a small five-a-side pitch," Grealish said. "But Ndiaye wouldn't even need that space at all. No matter where he's in. He's just in and out, whereas Doku, like, you know, might need a bit of space for his, like, pace and stuff. Saka as well."
Ndiaye has certainly justified the faith shown in him since his move to Merseyside. He scored 11 goals in all competitions during his debut season and has already added a further four this campaign, making him a key figure in Everton's positive start.
Manager Moyes Adds His Praise
Grealish is not alone in his high regard for the 25-year-old. Everton manager David Moyes has also been effusive in his praise, particularly as Ndiaye prepares to depart for the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.
"He had a great assist for Thierno but I think it would be good to get him a couple of goals. I hope he’s not keeping them for Senegal, I hope he’s scoring them for us," Moyes commented. He acknowledged the potential distraction of the upcoming tournament but was quick to highlight Ndiaye's importance: "Ili’s been really good for us, probably our best player at different times this season."
Everton, currently sitting ninth in the Premier League table, will now have to cope without their creative force. Their next challenge is a formidable one: hosting league leaders Arsenal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend.
Grealish's bold claim places a significant spotlight on Iliman Ndiaye, elevating the debate about technical skill in England's top flight and marking the Everton man as one of the division's most underrated talents.
