Everton’s contract negotiations with Idrissa Gueye will take a step forward – unless his Senegal side can beat Iraq on Friday and progress to the knockout stage of the World Cup as one of the best third placed teams from the groups.
The Blues midfielder, who turns 37 in September, has started both of Senegal’s matches at this summer’s tournament but they have now suffered a brace of defeats at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, a venue where he played for Everton against Bournemouth in the opening match of last year’s Premier League Summer Series that will also stage the World Cup final on July 19.
First off, Senegal lost 3-1 to France with Gueye playing 88 minutes and then he turned out for the whole 90 minutes of their 3-2 defeat to Norway in the early hours of Tuesday, UK time.
Gueye wanted a penalty after he was left poleaxed by Norway’s Wolverhampton Wanderers defender David Moller Wolfe, but Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio was unconvinced and felt the collision was accidental. However, BBC Sport commentator Jonathan Pearce said that the Everton man had “really put in a big shift,” for his country as he extended his record caps total to 133.
Ismaila Sarr, who netted 21 goals for Crystal Palace last season and is keeping Gueye’s Blues team-mate Iliman Ndiaye out of the side – he remained on the bench against Norway after a seven-minute cameo when facing France – struck twice, but a maiden effort from Marcus Pedersen followed by a brace from Erling Haaland ensured the Lions of Teranga were beaten again.
France and Norway now both have six points apiece ensuring that the hopes of both Gueye and Ndiaye, who, in an interview with SPORTbible published on the day of their first match, declared: “In my opinion, we are going to win the World Cup. If I didn’t think that, then what’s the point of going?” now rest on them beating Iraq and waiting to see if they are one of the eight out of 12 third place teams who make it through to the last 32.
Everton announced on June 10: “The club is continuing to liaise with representatives of Idrissa Gana Gueye over his future, with the midfielder’s existing deal expiring at the end of June.”
The ECHO understands that talks have been put on the back burner while Gueye is involved in his World Cup matches, but an early exit from the competition would put his club future back into focus.
He penned a one-year contract on July 7 last year with an option for a further year, but his 25 appearances during the 2025/26 season – he missed seven games while on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, which Senegal won, only for the decision to be overturned and the title awarded to Morocco – were not enough for the additional 12 months to kick in.
First arriving from Aston Villa a decade ago, Gueye has made 236 appearances in total for the Blues across two spells and has scored 10 goals.