Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye returned to the club in 2022, but still hasn’t achieved his top goal.
They say to never go back, but Idrissa Gana Gueye felt the pull of Goodison Park.
Gueye first joined Everton from Aston Villa back in 2016 and became a firm fan favourite in three years at the club.
Gueye departed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, but returned to Everton just three years later.
Now 36, Gueye has left Everton fans split this season, but he impressed against Fulham on Saturday.
Everton v Fulham - Premier League
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Idrissa Gueye on his elusive Everton target
Gueye scored the opening goal as Everton beat Fulham 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
That was his second goal of the season, with Gueye now ahead of strikers Beto and Thierno Barry in the goalscoring charts.
Gueye won’t be too fussed about his goalscoring statistics, but more about Everton’s success as a whole.
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The veteran midfielder has now told Everton’s official website that he returned with one goal in mind.
Gueye wanted to take Everton back to European action upon returning from PSG, but has yet to achieve that goal.
“I said it when I came back here that the goal was to get the Club back up to where we feel it belongs – playing in Europe, fighting towards the top of the league,” said Gueye.
“We haven’t reached that goal yet, so we keep going – we keep working,” he added.
Gueye signed a new Everton deal last summer, signing on until the summer of 2026, with the option of another year.
Now into the final stages of his career, Gueye is running out of time to achieve that European goal with Everton.
What Everton need to qualify for Europe
Gueye’s goal is admirable, and Everton had some fine European nights under Moyes and Roberto Martinez.
Everton haven’t played in Europe since the 2017-18 season after a torrid Europa League group stage campaign under Ronald Koeman.
Getting back into the Europa League is a big ask this season, but the UEFA Conference League should not be out of the question.
The Premier League is tight this season, and Everton have the players to string some results together.
Moyes won the Conference League with West Ham, so he will surely have aspirations of matching that success at Everton.
The biggest problem is goals, as Beto and Barry have struggled to find the net this season.
Everton currently sit three points off seventh place, which could be the Conference League spot, depending on the winners of the Carabao Cup.
The Toffees may need reinforcements in January, but Gueye could yet fulfil that goal before he hangs up his boots.