Idrissa Gana Gueye rejoined Everton in the summer transfer window from Paris Saint-Germain amidst Frank Lampard’s efforts to solve his midfield crisis from the season prior. Although the midfielder had a shaky start back on Merseyside, he is slowly but surely showing why EFC were desperate to bring him back to the club.
The Senegalese International first joined the toffees from Aston Villa after their relegation from the Premier League back in 2016 for under £8 million [via Transfermarkt]. He would go on to make over 100 appearances for the club, very quickly becoming a fan favourite and many described him as the best player at the club at the time.
His excellent performances sparked interest from some of the best teams in the world, with Everton fearing the inevitable of not being able to turn down a bid for Idrissa if it came in from a big club.
In late July 2019, it did. Paris Saint-Germain placed a bid just shy of £30 million for the midfielder. This bid was seen as un-rejectable at the time, with the Gana-Gueye thoroughly deserving a move to a Champions League level side and the club wanting to get their money’s worth, with the midfielder just a few weeks off turning 30 at the time.
The blue’s replacement in midfield would come in the shape of Ivorian, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin, but the least said about his time on Merseyside, the better. Injuries plagued his time at the club and, whilst still at Everton, he might have played his last game for the club already.
In the summer prior to the current Premier League season, Lampard made it clear that he wanted a full re-vamp of his side’s midfield. He would go on to sign three natural midfielders, Amadou Onana from LOSC Lille, James Garner from Manchester United and, obviously, Idrissa Gana Gueye from PSG. Whilst Garner has slowly been trickled into the line-up by Lampard, Onana and Gana have been placed into a midfield three with Alex Iwobi so far this season.
Although Gana has made a few mistakes so far this season, he has slotted into the centre of Lampard’s midfield without many hitches, playing as a deep-lying midfielder with Iwobi and Onana just in front. So far, Gana has played an integral role in his side and probably without the praise he deserves.
The midfielder played the most passes on the pitch in the blue’s most recent game against Newcastle and has also topped many stats in the Everton squad. He has played the most passes per 90 in the squad this season (44.5), made the most interceptions per 90 (2.2) and also won possession back in the final third the most times per 90 (0.8) in the squad so far this season.
Has Gana Gueye been Everton's best player so far this season?Yes
No
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