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Reece James has sparked speculation that Chelsea could be well-positioned to sign one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League
Reece James was spotted enjoying a chat with Iliman Ndiaye following Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton. The Blues captain led Enzo Maresca's side to victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, securing three crucial points in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification.
So long as Manchester City win or draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, and Manchester United don't beat Bournemouth at Old Trafford by eight or more goals, Chelsea will have fourth place wrapped up until next weekend.
While James wasn't directly involved in either of the goals against the Toffees, he still played a key role in the game. With the help of Marc Cucurella, the England international managed to keep Ndiaye at bay.
The Everton winger has enjoyed a promising start to the season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 16 appearances. He almost netted his fifth of the campaign, striking the inside of the post towards the end of the second half.
However, Ndiaye had no luck; together, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah kept their third successive clean sheet. After the game, the television cameras spotted James enjoying a chat with the Everton talisman.
While covering his mouth, the Chelsea captain wrapped his arm around Ndiaye and patted him on the chest. James gestured with his head to the tunnel, and they shook hands.
A clip of the moment quickly went viral on social media, garnering over 2,000 likes and 100,000 views within an hour. It has since sparked speculation that the Blues could be well-positioned to sign the Everton star in the January transfer window – even though he'll be representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations later this month.
That said, Ndiaye has previously admitted that he was a Chelsea fan growing up. Speaking to BBC Sport in August 2024, shortly after his £15m transfer to Everton from Marseille, he said: "Personally, for me, it is the best league in the world.
"Everyone dreams of being in the Premier League. It is not easy to get to it. I know a lot of players whose aim was to play there, but it hasn't happened yet.
"I watch football, I live football, I eat football – when I was young, I used to be a fan of Chelsea. I watched Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba, and it was amazing watching them play."
Ndiaye, who the CIES Football Observatory value up to £52.7m/€60m, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium in recent weeks. The Toffees will be expected to fend off interest from any potential suitors next month as they look to secure European football.
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