It has to happen. Those were the quiet but powerful words echoing through Liverpool’s corridors of power in recent weeks. The reality is setting in, and no matter how uncomfortable it feels, time is moving fast. Mohamed Salah — the Egyptian King, the face of an era, the scorer of impossible goals and breaker of unthinkable records — will one day step down from his throne at Anfield. And when that moment comes, Liverpool must already have the next heir ready to wear the crown. That search has now taken a strange but fascinating twist — because the man some believe is *destined* to replace Salah wears the blue of Everton. Yes, you read that right. An Everton star might just be Liverpool’s future right-wing hero.
The idea sounds outrageous at first — almost forbidden. Everton and Liverpool, separated by just a park but divided by history, rivalry, and pride. Yet football, in its unpredictable beauty, often finds ways to write scripts that nobody dares to imagine. And now, one name has entered the story with growing noise and undeniable logic — Iliman Ndiaye.
Under Arne Slot’s new era and the leadership of sporting director Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s recruitment vision has shifted. The club no longer chases big names alone; it chases identities, styles, and tactical fit. Slot’s football demands wide forwards who can create chaos, players who glide past defenders, manipulate the ball with magic, and open spaces for others. It’s a system built on intelligence, creativity, and controlled unpredictability — and Ndiaye, currently lighting up Goodison Park, fits that description like a glove.
Salah’s current contract runs until 2027, but few inside the club expect him to see out that full term. He has carried the team for nearly a decade, giving everything in goals, assists, leadership, and pure inspiration. Yet there’s an awareness that the cycle is turning. The club cannot wait for the farewell moment before preparing for life after him. Liverpool’s future — and perhaps the next five years of attacking evolution — depends on Richard Hughes getting this one decision right. The heir to Salah’s throne must not only fill a position; he must carry a legacy.
For that reason, the search has been both global and local. Liverpool scouts have monitored wingers from Spain, Germany, and Portugal, but surprisingly, one of the most complete modern wide attackers is just across Stanley Park. Since joining Everton, Iliman Ndiaye has transformed himself into one of the Premier League’s most thrilling dribblers. He is explosive yet balanced, creative yet direct. His movement has destroyed defensive lines all season. Already, he’s completed 25 take-ons, placing him among the top five in the Premier League — an elite number that speaks volumes about his fearlessness.
For Liverpool, who have struggled in recent games to break down stubborn low blocks, Ndiaye represents exactly what’s missing. When defenders sit deep, Salah once thrived by cutting inside and producing moments of brilliance. But with Salah aging and occasionally rested, Liverpool have found themselves short of a winger who can take on two or three defenders in tight spaces and still create something out of nothing. Ndiaye has that gift — that rare ability to turn congestion into opportunity.
Related Posts:
And while comparisons to Salah might sound unfair, Ndiaye offers something different, perhaps even more suitable for Arne Slot’s tactical shape. Salah’s game is built on speed, precision, and relentless finishing. Ndiaye’s is built on artistry — dribbling, flair, and manipulation of rhythm. He pulls defenders towards him, creating space for strikers like Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike to move freely. In that sense, he could become the creative engine of Liverpool’s next attacking era.
But, of course, there’s one massive wall standing between this idea and reality — the Merseyside divide. Liverpool and Everton do not do business. It’s not a rule written on paper, but one carved deep into pride and tradition. In over two decades, no direct deal has happened between the two clubs. The last man to cross the blue-to-red line was Abel Xavier in 2002 — a move that caused uproar on both sides of the city. Since then, opportunities have come and gone. Liverpool admired Anthony Gordon, but he went to Newcastle. They also showed interest in Jarrad Branthwaite, but Everton quickly moved to protect their asset.
For Hughes to make this happen, he would have to break one of English football’s most stubborn taboos. Yet the growing belief inside certain circles is that Ndiaye might be worth it. His performances have already placed him on several top clubs’ radars, but Liverpool’s proximity, style, and ambition make them the most logical fit — if they dare to make the call.
Everton, on their part, would resist with all their strength. Selling their star to their fiercest rival would feel like surrendering a piece of pride. But football is a game of opportunities — and money talks. If Liverpool were to offer a package that helps Everton rebuild and stay stable, perhaps the unthinkable could happen. It would be a signing that shocks the world but also defines the future of both clubs.
There’s also a deeper narrative forming beneath the surface. Ndiaye, once seen as a player of raw potential, has now matured into a complete attacker. His story is one of resilience and rise — from the lower leagues to Premier League stardom. That kind of journey mirrors the heart of Liverpool’s identity: players who work, who fight, who never stop believing. For many fans, that’s what makes the idea even more fascinating. He feels like a Liverpool player trapped in blue.
Inside Anfield, Arne Slot knows replacing Salah will not be a one-man job. You can’t simply buy another Salah. You build a new system around the next generation. Ndiaye may not score 30 goals a season, but he can spark a different kind of dominance — one based on unpredictability and team movement. He can free others. He can give Liverpool that street football energy again, that element of surprise that defenders hate.
Watching him play for Everton, it’s easy to see why his name has caused so much debate among Liverpool fans online. The way he twists defenders, the way he glides into tight spaces — it all looks like something out of Salah’s early Premier League days. He’s fearless, joyful, and bold. And in modern football, where structured defenses have become robotic, players like him are priceless.
But will Liverpool actually make a move? Richard Hughes has built his career on taking brave decisions. His arrival as sporting director was meant to usher in a new era of clever, forward-thinking recruitment. He knows that every successful era needs its generational winger — someone who defines how the team attacks and inspires others. If Salah was that player for Klopp’s Liverpool, Ndiaye could be that player for Slot’s Liverpool.
Still, many within the fanbase remain torn. How can a player from Everton become a hero at Anfield? The rivalry runs deep, and even for the most open-minded supporters, it feels uncomfortable. But football has a strange way of healing divides. Once a player wears red, scores, and celebrates under the Kop, history often fades into the background. If Ndiaye ever makes that move and performs, Liverpool fans will not care where he came from.
Another key reason this story refuses to fade is timing. Liverpool know that sooner or later, Salah will likely depart for one final adventure, possibly in Saudi Arabia or the MLS. When that happens, they cannot afford to panic or rebuild from scratch. They must already have the next weapon ready — and Ndiaye, given his Premier League experience and technical qualities, could step straight in. No adaptation period, no language barrier, no tactical shock.
His numbers this season back it up too. Beyond the dribbles, Ndiaye has shown creativity in final passes, improved finishing, and exceptional work rate. He doesn’t hide from defensive duties, tracking back and pressing — traits Arne Slot demands from his forwards. In fact, it’s that combination of flair and work ethic that has made him so admired across the league.
Liverpool have seen players like Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo offer flashes of brilliance, but none have fully captured that right-wing dominance since Salah’s peak. Ndiaye could be the missing piece — the one who restores that chaos and directness on the flank.
Breaking the tradition of non-transfer with Everton would be massive. It would dominate headlines for weeks. But in football, legacy is built by bold moves. Richard Hughes might see this as his defining statement — the moment he proves he can do what others won’t, for the sake of the club’s future.
The story of Salah’s successor was always going to be emotional. The Egyptian has become more than a player; he is a symbol of Liverpool’s rise under Klopp. His goals built the dream, his humility kept it grounded, and his consistency made it legendary. Whoever comes after him must face both expectation and comparison — and that is why the search is so complex. Yet, if Liverpool want a winger who plays without fear, who dances through pressure and turns games on their head, Ndiaye might just be the answer.
There’s also poetic symmetry in the idea. For decades, Anfield and Goodison have stood as two opposing fortresses — one red, one blue. Imagine the story of a player who crosses the divide not for money or fame, but to chase greatness. Imagine the noise, the drama, the shock — and then, perhaps, the acceptance when he scores his first goal under the Kop’s roar. Football loves stories like that.
In the end, the words that began this discussion still stand: *it has to happen.* Not because it’s easy, not because it’s logical, but because football is about moments that define eras. Mo Salah’s era at Liverpool will one day end, and when it does, the club must already have someone ready to carry the torch. Iliman Ndiaye, against all odds, might just be that man.
The Premier League has seen many rivalries, but few would have the courage to break one this deep. Yet Liverpool have never been a club afraid of history. They rewrite it. And maybe, just maybe, this is the chapter that begins a new story — the day an Everton star becomes the future of Liverpool’s attack.
When Salah eventually says goodbye, the fans will remember his magic forever. But football never stops. The game keeps moving, searching for the next hero. And right now, just a few miles away, that hero might be waiting — wearing blue, dribbling past defenders, and unknowingly preparing to walk into Anfield’s storybook.
That’s why many inside Liverpool whisper the same words quietly but firmly: “It has to happen.” Because sometimes, destiny doesn’t care about colours. It only cares about greatness.
