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Markelo might get chance at Everton this season

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Nathangelo Markelo of Everton in action during the Premier League Cup Final match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on May 08, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Nathangelo Markelo of Everton in action during the Premier League Cup Final match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on May 08, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) /
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One of the as yet unresolved questions in this transfer window is whether Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye might still decide he wants to move on this summer or if the Blues will look to cash in on him anyway.

Although the focus concerning transfers has been on strikers and defensive reinforcements, the position of Gueye and his future at Everton is critical. If he does move on the Toffees will have to find a way of replacing him.

He was obviously heavily linked with a January move to PSG and those rumours haven’t fully gone away. He was keen on the move away from Goodison Park and as he is 30, the Blues do anyway need to be looking at a replacement for the Senegal international at some point in the near future.

Replacing Gueye will be tough given his influence and importance to how the Toffees are set up and play.

One young player who might be considered as his long-term replacement, is the Everton Under-23’s defensive midfielder Nathangelo Markelo.

Reports in the Liverpool Echo indicate he could get a chance to show what he can offer the first-team this summer as the Toffees’ players start to return to pre-season training.

Markelo is a Dutch youngster who Everton went to great lengths to prize away from leading Dutch clubs like Ajax.

Blues Director of Football Marcel Brands, a fellow Dutchman, has also apparently taken Markelo under his wing and is pushing for him to have a role to play in Marco Silva’s first team squad this summer.

When the Blues did sign him he was a centre-back but was converted to a defensive midfielder by Under-23’s coach David Unsworth.

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He played an important role in the success of the Under-23’s last season as the side won a brilliant league and cup double.

With a view to finding a successor to Gana, this summer Everton have been linked with several ball-winning midfield enforcers. In particular the Argentinian player Santiago Sosa, who the Blues were apparently quite keen on signing recently.

But it seems as though work permit problems sabotaged that move. Perhaps then Markelo will possibly provide the answer to who might succeed Gana, whether he does move on this summer or in a year or two.

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