Blues confirmed this morning that Cheikh N’Doye was heading back to former club Angers on loan. Rumours broke last night that he was returning to France with Angers posting a video that their new arrival was due to be announced imminently.
N’Doye’s time at Blues has been frustrating at times, with the big Senegalese man never quite living up to the prospects that supporters read about last season. On the ball he was often infuriating, some would argue he was lacking that midfield partner to collect the ball from him, others would suggest a footballer should be able to make a 10 yard pass…
The one thing that can’t be argued is his heart. Each time he played, whether he looked out of place or not, he was always up for a battle and gave his all, epitomised by tangling with Jon Terry and being sent off at Villa Park last season.
The decision to allow N’Doye to move leaves Blues with just two senior midfielders available for Friday’s game against Swansea, Mikael Kieftenbeld and Gary Gardner. With Craig Gardner suspended and David Davis out with a long term injury, unless a replacement is added to the squad, 19 year old Charlie Lakin will likely be involved in tomorrow’s squad.
The striking thing from the Official Blues announcement is in the final 2 paragraphs, almost suggesting that they were forced to allow N’Doye to leave. We believe Blues were told they had to make cuts to the squad in order for the EFL to agree to them being able to register new players and that the EFL may well have been leaning on Blues to make the cuts they were told to.
Due to the restrictions Blues have had placed on them by the EFL, the Club is considering various ways and means to aid their profitability and sustainability targets to comply with regulations.
Ideally Garry Monk would not want to reduce the number of players who make up his preferred senior squad.
N’Doye is out of contract with Blues at the end of his loan spell and the Angers President is suggesting he has already agreed a deal with them meaning he will be with them for 3 years.
.@SadSaidchabane : Cheikh N’Doye est avec nous pour les 3 prochaines saisons
— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) August 16, 2018
Cheikh N’Doye is with us for the next three seasons