Ndiaye's Numbers Speak for Themselves
When Iliman Ndiaye finally puts pen to paper at the Etihad, City will be getting a winger whose dribbling stats put him in the Premier League's top bracket. The Senegalese international completed 73 take-ons last season, a figure bettered by only one man in the entire division: Jeremy Doku, with 84.
That puts Ndiaye second in the league's take-on charts, and it's a trait that should translate neatly into Enzo Maresca's system. The Blues have spent the summer adding players with specific, elite qualities, and Ndiaye's willingness to run at defenders fits the profile.
"He was second in this category in the Premier League to Jeremy Doku who completed 84."
It's not just volume either. The Athletic's Conor O'Neil reports Ndiaye completed 49% of his take-ons last season, a success rate that suggests his dribbling isn't just frequent but effective.
For a side that already possesses Doku's explosiveness, adding another player who can beat a man one-on-one gives Maresca options. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are clearly building with an eye on breaking down deep defences, and Ndiaye's ability to commit defenders and create space could prove invaluable.
Everton's loss looks set to be City's gain, and while the fee hasn't been disclosed, the profile is right. Ndiaye is a player who looks ideally suited to life under Maresca, and the prospect of him and Doku on opposite flanks is a mouth-watering one for City supporters.