Iliman Ndiaye was one of several Everton players who shone as the Blues produced a superb second-half effort to take a 3-1 lead over their title-chasing opponents on Monday, which unfortunately was not in the end enough to secure a much-needed three points.
The home team once again gave up a very late goal for the third consecutive match, and that cost them a win that might have sustained a hope, albeit an increasingly slender one, that European qualification is still possible.
That prospect now seems to be less likely with Everton four points off the Europa League position and just three games to go before the season ends.
It is not yet over, and depending on results and other factors, such as how many European places English teams might get, the Toffees could still sneak in.
Were they to do so, then, a significant further strengthening of the squad would be needed over the summer to enable the Blues to play and compete in matches twice a week.
Given that situation, Everton cannot afford to lose any key players from the current squad, and so fresh rumours of other clubs eyeing any of their best players will be a concern.
Just such a story appears linking Ndiaye with a summer transfer away from Merseyside, possibly even to Monday's opponents, Manchester City.
The Senegal star produced one of his trademark outstandingly tricky and creative performances and had two gilt-edged chances to score, either of which would have probably sealed the points for the Blues.
He has been a terrific asset for Everton since he signed from Marseille in 2023, and especially this season, after Jack Grealish's injury meant more of the creative weight was on his shoulders.
There is, of course, no need necessarily to believe there is anything substantial to these speculative stories, and it is admitted that Ndiaye appears to be happy enough at the Hill Dickinson.
But we have seen clubs climb from lower down the Premier League and then lose top talent when they have any success, such as happened to Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth last summer.
Were Ndaiye to have his head turned by a really big offer from, say, City or their Manchester rivals United, who have also been linked with him in the past, then he would be very difficult to replace.
Finding a talent of his calibre for the sort of fee that the Toffees paid Marseille three years ago, even if Everton got something around the £60 or 70 million mark, would be a tall order for sure.
And the complications surrounding Grealish's future also make it potentially more of a headache for David Moyes as he contemplates his summer transfer window business.
Keeping hold of his best players will surely be a top priority for Moyes, enabling him to concentrate on improving other areas of the team that need new additions most urgently.
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