As the transfer window is set to close in less than 24 hours, Everton have suddenly been linked with a move for their old midfield general Idrissa Gueye who they sold to PSG in the summer of 2019.
Everton made a very good profit on Gueye having originally bought the tough tackling midfielder for just offering seven million pounds from Aston Villa in the summer of 2016 and then sold him on to PSG for £30 million pounds.
During his three seasons at Goodison Park Gueye became a cult hero for his tackling and interceptions of the opposition’s attack. He made more tackles than any other Premier League player in his first season and was the first player to achieve 100 tackles in that 2016/17 season.
With Frank Lampard now in charge of the Toffees, although yet to be officially announced, the midfield area has been rightly identified as a key area to add players to before the transfer window shuts.
Could Idrissa Gueye return to Everton?
Injuries to Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph have enhanced the need for reinforcements in midfield. Definitely, a number ten type of player was required, but these injuries have meant a number six type defensive midfielder is just as important now.
Donny Van De Beek is already on his way to Goodison on a loan deal for the rest of the season which fills in that number ten type of role, this is expected to be officially announced in the morning with Lampard as the new manager.
Now the spotlight has fallen on the more defensive midfielder and Gueye has been identified as someone who may appreciate more first-team football than he currently gets at PSG. Reports have surfaced late on Sunday including the tweet below from the Liverpool Echo:
Frank Lampard has 'signed' a two-and-a-half year deal at Everton, according to reports, with Dele Alli and Idrissa Gana Gueye 'considered' possible targets#EFC https://t.co/o8af1MzSnx
— Everton FC News (@LivEchoEFC) January 30, 2022
Any loan move for a defensive midfielder will have to be concentrated outside the Premier League as when the Van De Beek transfer is finalised it means Everton will have their quota of two Premier League loan deals at the same time as Anwar El Ghazi is already on loan from Aston Villa.
What could also complicate matters is that Gueye is out in Cameroon with the Senegalese squad at the AFCON tournament. Senegal won their Quarter-Final last night to get into the semi-finals where they meet Egypt. This means any paperwork and discussions with Gueye will have to be done via Africa, although his medical wouldn’t be a problem with him currently in action.
Certainly, Evertonians would love to see Gueye back and he left on very good terms after a very successful three years on Merseyside. It would be exactly the type of player Everton need and one that Lampard is known to utilise in his tactical shape.
Suddenly the transfer window looks like it will get very eventful for all concerned at Everton in the last 24 hours which could include a reunion with a player Evertonians all have total respect for.
Will Everton manage to sign Idrissa Gueye?