Everton have reportedly agreed on a deal to re-sign Senegalese midfield powerhouse Idrissa Gueye from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye is nearing a return to Everton this summer almost three years since he departed Merseyside for the French capital. The Toffees have a deal in place with PSG and are sorting out the final few details to land the Senegalese enforcer.
Gueye is in Liverpool and will undergo a medical soon before signing a contract with Everton. The 32-year-old, who will reportedly cost the Toffees around €10 million, has already agreed personal terms with the club, with a return imminent. The Senegalese international is a familiar name to the Goodison Park faithful, having spent three years at Everton, clocking up 108 outings before joining PSG.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a fairly successful tenure at PSG and has been a regular since joining them in 2019, making 111 appearances, scoring seven goals while setting up another six in the process. Gueye was a vital cog in the PSG side that reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League final.
Things have not been quite as fruitful since then, as Gueye has shown indifferent form over the last couple of seasons. With a year left on his contract, PSG have put the 32-year-old up for sale this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by Christophe Galtier.
Idrissa Gana Gueye’s in Merseyside in order to undergo medical tests and sign as new Everton player. Deal in place with Paris Saint-Germain, just final details to be resolved. ?? #EFC @ElBobble
Gueye has already accepted, waiting for final steps then here we go. pic.twitter.com/Lwxr8iWjh5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2022
As such, Gueye has several offers on the table from Turkey and MLS, but the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner has opted for a return to the English shores. He will hope to get regular first-team minutes for Everton in the upcoming season and help Frank Lampard’s men to steer well clear of relegation trouble in the Premier League.
The Toffees have more areas of weakness than strengths, but central midfield is high on Lampard’s list of priorities this summer. Specifically, Everton need a player who can anchor the midfield while offering protection to the backline. Allan and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are the current options at Lampard’s disposal, with both carrying question marks over their futures at the club.
To that end, Gueye’s arrival fixes a big issue in the midfield, providing a steely ball-winning powerhouse in the engine room. While the 32-year-old is far from an ideal long-term solution, signing Gueye for as little as €10 million is indeed shrewd business from Everton. He is still a solid top-level operator and is clearly a major upgrade over their current options.
Everton’s financial woes have hindered them from conducting their summer business early. But the Toffees have stepped up their transfer activity in the last week or so, bringing in Ruben Vinagre (on loan) and Dwight McNeil through the door.
With a deal to re-sign Gueye nearing completion, Everton are on track to complete their third acquisition in less than seven days. There is still a lot more to do before the transfer window closes, with Lampard still eyeing another midfielder and a backup striker.
