Exclusive: Everton Plot £50m Swoop for Nicolas Jackson to Partner Iliman Ndiaye in Attack

Everton want to turbocharge their attack by pairing Iliman Ndiaye with his international team mate Nicolas Jackson and establish an all Senegalese frontline.

The pair have both been instrumental in helping the Africans qualify for next year’s World Cup after cementing their places in Pape Thiaw’s hugely talented squad.

And that has alerted David Moyes, The Toffees’ manager, to the possibility of resurrecting the duo’s partnership at Premier League level by luring Jackson to Merseyside over the summer.

Ndiaye, previously of Sheffield United and Marseille, has been the stand-out player of Everton’s season so far, eclipsing even Jack Grealish following his loan switch from Manchester City.

JACKSON'S FUTURE

Jackson left his parent club, Chelsea, on a temporary deal earlier this term. 

But Bayern Munich, who paid a reported £16.5m to process the deal, are unlikely to make it permanent when the 24-year-old’s loan expires.

With Enzo Maresca’s employers making it plain Jackson has no long-term future at Stamford Bridge, the striker’s representatives have already begun sounding-out potential buyers. 

THREE-HORSE RACE

As SportsBoom revealed, Aston Villa and Newcastle are monitoring Jackson closely, with Everton poised to enter the race. This three-horse transfer battle is being closely tracked by major betting sites UK, which are offering constantly updated odds on the striker's next club.

With Jackson not turning 25 until June, The Friedkin Group would not baulk at a £50m investment in a long-term asset. For Everton, securing a talent of his calibre would be the football equivalent of landing one of the best sign up offers a major upfront commitment designed to deliver superior value and success for years to come.

Ndiaye, 15 months older than his compatriot, has also seen his value grow since returning to England from France.

The former Blades protegee has netted five goals in his last 15 appearances, four of which have come in the top-flight.

He is the only player at Moyes’ disposal to score more than once during the present campaign, a situation the Scot knows he must address in order to put Everton in the European conversation.

Jackson has also found the back of the net on five occasions. But more than half of his outings for the Germans have come from the bench, meaning he looks destined to leave the Allianz Arena when the Bundesliga campaign draws to a close.