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Would Guimaraes be good Gbamin replacement at Everton

By Matt Townsend

LILLE, FRANCE - DECEMBER 12: Bruno Guimaraes of Lyon (L) controls the ball during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille OSC and Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Pierre Mauroy on December 12, 2021 in Lille, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
LILLE, FRANCE - DECEMBER 12: Bruno Guimaraes of Lyon (L) controls the ball during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille OSC and Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Pierre Mauroy on December 12, 2021 in Lille, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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The rumour mill continues to churn out stories about potential new signings for Everton and one of the latest focusses on Lyon’s midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Midfield is one area of this Everton squad that needs some significant surgery and we’ve heard that Rafa Benitez wants two more players in this window, including further midfield reinforcements.

Now today, we have heard that Benitez has apparently told Jean-Philippe Gbamin that he can leave the club in this transfer window if a good offer comes for him, making bringing in another central midfielder even more important.

I have contradictory thoughts on Gbamin’s situation. I always hoped he had the tools to be a good player and I wanted to see him succeed on Merseyside.

But then, in one sense it probably is necessary given all the club’s financial pressures for the Blues’ to cut their losses on a player who because of an almost unbelievable injury-jinx has hardly played in two years since signing in summer 2019.

On the other hand, it is of course sad to see a player suffer so many setbacks, which undermined his entire career at Goodison Park, now leave in this slightly ingnominous way.

Not to mention that fact the Toffees’ are having to take another huge loss on a player they are selling as they surely won’t get anything close to the £30 million or so they paid Mainz for him.

In addition, it certainly seems that Benitez doesn’t see a future for him having barely picked him even when he has been healthy at last this season. And, we all know what happens when the maanger sets his face against a player.

One other midfielder who has again been linked with Everton is Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff. Media reports today claim the Magpies are considering a cash offer and Longstaff for unsettled Blues’ defender Lucas Digne.

I don’t think the Toffees’ should go for a deal like this not only because they need as much cash as possible for Digne, but also because I’m unconvinced Longstaff is the right player Everton need.

Another possibility the club are looking at, according to media rumours, is Olympique Lyonaise and Brazil midfielder Guimaraes.

The Brazilian is an outstanding midfield enforcer and a player who has multiple defensive and attacking attributes.

So on paper at least he looks a good option providing another strong all-round midfielder who can replace the qualities we all hoped for from Gbamin and bolster this key area of the side.

It seems Lyon aren’t keen to let him leave in this transfer window, not suprisingly given his qualities, and if he goes elsewhere it’s more probably to be in the summer.

Again, I doubt this player is a likely target of Everton given all this and the fact he is surely going to cost a considerable sum to prise him away from the French capital.

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