Everton have signed Jean-Philippe Gbamin from 1.FSV Mainz 05 for a reported £25million to likely serve as Idrissa Gana Gueye’s replacement, but some Blues fans on Reddit have been discussing if the Ivory Coast international’s arrival has left us in a weaker position than before the summer market opened.
The debate was sparked when one Toffees fan shared a statistical comparison of the two midfielders, which showed how Paris Saint-Germain’s new addition Gueye eclipsed his far-younger counterpart in a variety of ways.
From minutes played to tackles and interceptions per game, 29-year-old Gueye came out on top compared to 23-year-old Gbamin for their efforts in the 2018/19 season – albeit across two separate competitions, the Premier League and Bundesliga.
Gbamin did eclipse Gueye in some ways, as well, with the midfielder – who is capable of playing at centre-back – ranking higher for the number of fouls committed, with 1.2 compared with Gueye’s 1.6.
Blues fans reacting to the comparison were quick to point out the age difference between Gbamin and Gueye, and the fact they played in different leagues and under different managers, making a direct comparison between them somewhat skewed.
Others also stated how Gbamin has not played a game for Everton yet, but some supporters are suggesting Marco Silva needs to fix his midfield or sign another player following Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes’ permanent arrivals.
We have been linked with another central option recently, with reports in France of a £32million bid for Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure now supported by the Hornet’s local press.
Here’s how these fans reacted to one fan’s comparison of Gbamin and Gueye, and the suggestion that Marcel Brands and Silva may have made a mistake…
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