Everton £17m transfer could green light West Ham £40m bagsman swoop

Everton are on the verge of signing former Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye in a transfer move that could help West Ham secure a forward addition of their own this summer.

The 24-year-old could have tasted Premier League action last season having achieved promotion from the Championship with the Blades in 2023 but opted to return to his childhood club of Marseille in a £20 million deal. Ndiaye is now in reported to be in advanced talks with the Toffees, as confirmed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday morning.

Romano took to social media platform X and wrote: "Iliman Ndiaye to Everton, here we go! Deal in place for €18.5m plus €1.5m add-ons. Olympique Marseille accepted terms and contracts are set to be signed. Ndiaye has agreed on a five year deal at #EFC, despite other PL clubs' interest he only wanted Everton."

While that is a move not set to have a direct impact on West Ham, the knock-on effect could help push forward a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The London outfit have been linked with interest in the talisman in recent months.

Calvert-Lewin had been on the verge of completing a £40 million move to Newcastle United this week until talks dramatically collapsed. The Chronicle now reports that the Hammers have inquired with Everton over the player's availability as they look to make the most of the Magpies' missed opportunity.

Sky Sports reports that the Merseyside club's valuation of the striker was too lofty for Newcastle United, with both clubs under pressure to meet PSR guidelines when the financial year comes to a close at the end of this week.

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Calvert-Lewin has just a year left on his Everton contract and is thought to be considered a priority sale at Goodison Park. The arrival of Ndiaye as a replacement adds weight to that and a £17 million Everton expenditure would pile even more pressure on making a profit off current players.

Julen Lopetegui is preparing for his first season in charge of West Ham and recruiting a striker is one of the club's priority. A long list of names have been linked with the Hammers, including Brentford striker Ivan Toney, but Calvert-Lewin appears to be the latest frontrunner.