- Idrissa Gana Gueye has made over 200 appearances for Everton in 2 spells.
- Missed end of the season through injury but should return for World Cup.
- Midfielder’s contract is set to expire at the end of this current campaign.
Idrissa Gana Gueye has been a main component of Everton’s midfield in both of his periods with the club.
The 36-year-old’s contract is set to expire at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and David Moyes faces a decision on whether to keep the midfielder.
While he is nearing the end of his career, Gueye has proven to be a calming presence in the middle of the park, with his experience proving valuable.
But there is also the view that keeping hold of a midfielder in his late 30s does not match the image of progression, and the Blues should focus on developing young talent.
Idrissa Gueye is not Everton’s best midfielder anymore
In Gueye’s first period with the club, the Senegalese was gargantuan in midfield for the Toffees, and his impact earned him a move to giants Paris Saint-Germain.
When making a return to Merseyside in 2022, he slotted straight back into the starting picture, remaining there since.
But as age has caught up with the midfielder, he has slowed down, and the development of James Garner means Gueye is no longer Everton’s premier man in the middle.
So, with the Senegalese not possessing the same authority he once had, should that mean his days at Everton are now over?
A midfield veteran is very handy to have
January was an extremely tough month for the Toffees.
As Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye went away to compete at AFCON, they also suffered from injuries and suspension, which left them extremely short-changed.
Moyes will not want to go through this again and will consider his depth options carefully in the summer ahead.
The situation Gueye finds himself in is strikingly similar to the one Michael Keane found himself in at the end of last season.
Keane had not made any great case that he deserved to stay on Merseyside, yet he was still offered a contract extension, with the goal of keeping him on board for depth.
This decision, of course, paid off, due to the struggling fitness of Jarrad Branthwaite, and the 33-year-old was thrown back into the Blues’ starting XI.
Moyes will likely apply the same logic to Gueye, and keeping hold of the Senegalese international to ensure he holds depth in midfield would be a no-brainer.
Evertonians understandably want to see ambitious signings made this summer, but the Toffees can still attract exciting talent and keep hold of a veteran midfielder who brings experience and intelligence to their midfield.
