Everton haven’t welcomed any fresh faces to the fold this winter, but David Moyes is looking to pounce on a shrewd deal or two before the window slams shut next Monday.
Fans were guided into the January market with hope, and perhaps even anticipation, that a new forward would be signed to strengthen Moyes’ team. Jack Grealish then injured his foot, ruling him out for up to three months. The spotlight on attacking ranks and who could strengthen the squad was then brightened.
Exacerbating the issue is the emergence of rumours that Premier League rivals have taken a liking to Iliman Ndiaye, who is bound to attract more and more interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
The latest on Everton’s need for a forward
Thierno Barry‘s emphatic form in front of goal has at least eased the need for a new centre-forward. Beto continues to struggle, but it looks like the hulking striker will stay put for now.
Grealish’s absence presents a big blow, though, and one which Everton need to overcome, especially as Dwight McNeil is not showing he has what it takes to effectively stand in for the England international.
With Manchester United rumoured to have made Ndiaye a top target this summer, Moyes will need to ensure his attacking flanks are well-packed.
As per journalist Fabrizio Biasin, Everton have been among the clubs making calls for Inter Milan winger Luis Henrique, who is unsettled with the Serie A giants, seeking to strike a deal before next week’s deadline.
Aston Villa and Bournemouth are also in the mix, with the latter’s interest said to be the most concrete, having lodged a €30m (equating to £26m) offer already.
Inter will only allow the Brazilian winger to leave if they find a suitable replacement.
Why Luis Henrique could be the new Ndiaye
Henriquer has struggled to play his best football for Inter Milan this season, but four years in France with Marseille underscored his potential, returning nine goals and ten assists across all competitions last season.
A powerful and front-footed wide forward, the 24-year-old typically plays off the left, and so while he has the silky style and direct approach to emerge as Moyes’ new version of Ndiaye, he will fill in for the injured Grealish, thus allowing Ndiaye to continue performing his prolific role on the right wing.
Henrique has arguably been mismanaged during his time in Italy. Certainly, the Brazilian talent has lacked the rip-roaring intensity on the ball that characterised his time in France.
For this, talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as an “explosive” winger with pace and dribbling that could raise him to an elite standard.
It is important sometimes not to look at an up-and-coming talent’s struggles in isolation. Ndiaye, for example, joined Everton from Marseille in a £15m deal after flattering to deceive in France.
The Senegalese superstar played 46 times for Marseille throughout the 2024/25 season. Four goals were all he scored. When he arrived, supporter opinions were mixed, with a BBC Sport Q&A seeing one fan remark they were ‘underwhelmed’, and another questioning why £15m had been forked out for a player who fell by the wayside in Ligue 1.
If that’s not an advocacy of taking in the wider picture, what is? Ndiaye is not just Everton’s most dangerous forward but “one of the best players in the Premier League“, as described by pundit Jamie O’Hara.
David Moyes’ Top Scorers at Everton (2nd spell)
Player
Apps
Goals
Iliman Ndiaye
34
10
Beto
45
10
Thierno Barry
26
5
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
17
4
Michael Keane
32
4
Abdoulaye Doucoure
17
3
Charly Alcaraz
33
3
James Garner
44
3
Data via Transfermarkt
Perhaps Henrique simply needs an environment that will act as a hothouse for his personal development, as has been the case with Ndiaye over the past 18 months.
For sure, there would be a certain risk to signing a winger who has blanked across 26 outings for one of Italy’s superpowers this season, but context is important, and he has demonstrable talent in France and Botafogo in Brazil before that.
Two-sided, dynamic and with a variation to his attacking output that would please Moyes as he continues to add layers to his Everton team, Henrique might just be worth a punt, following in Ndiaye’s footsteps in reinventing himself on Merseyside.
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He’s a dream for Ndiaye: Everton re-open talks to sign “insane” £17m talent
Everton are ready to add to their ranks before the winter transfer window closes next week.