Idrissa-Gueye
Everton have long been known for the strength of their academy, and after the turbulent events of the summer transfer window, it looks like the first-team will be more reliant on youth than ever before.
Toffees supporters will have disconcerting memories of a disastrous summer transfer window just passed. We don't need to dig into technical director Angus Kinnear's failure to sign a right-back, nor the total failure on the centre-forward front, with players sold and replacements fumbled.
Action Images via Reuters/John Clifton
However, Everton did manage to do some work in the middle of the park - and it was a good thing too, with Idrissa Gueye drawing down the curtain on his two-part career on Merseyside.
Why Idrissa Gueye was so important for Everton
Whether Gueye left Everton this summer as a legend would be a polarising argument, but there's no question that the Senegalese midfielder played a crucial part for the club over the past ten years, joining ten years ago from relegated Aston Villa.
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Most appearances for Everton (active players)
Player
Jordan Pickford
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Michael Keane
Idrissa Gueye
James Tarkowski
The veteran midfielder might have turned 37 last month, but he was no liability in the Premier League last year, starting 25 matches. He completed 87% of his passes, won 56% of his ground battles and won 1.7 tackles per game.
There's no question that Gueye could have played a squad role for Everton this season, but letting him leave was probably for the best, his salary in excess of £100k per week before it expired.
It was always going to be a tough one, but Everton's problems are not focused on the centre of the park. Indeed, the Merseysiders appear to be adapting well to life after Gueye.
How Everton have replaced Gueye
Everton didn't want their long-time stalwart to leave, but he chased one last bag at the end of his career, signing on a free transfer with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Diriyah.
gueye-everton-fulham
Merlin Rohl's loan spell has been made permanent this summer, and Everton already succeeded in the race to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer.
The 2025/26 Championship Player of the Season hasn't hit full stride in the Premier League, but his ball-playing and duel-winning qualities are undeniable.
However, Hackney does not have the same technical profile as Gueye, and perhaps that robust, tough-tackling presence is missing at the Hill Dickinson.
Luckily, Moyes might be able to call upon an academy star who is showing all the signs of Premier League quality.
Everton must unleash the new Gueye
Gueye was a machine of a midfielder, combative and relentless and happy to mop things up. It's a rare profile, but Everton do have a solution in the form of Melvin Matos.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba in action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye
Matos is only 18 years old. He was promoted from the U18s to life in the Premier League 2 with the U21s this summer, and he has made a strong start under David Hughes.
The robust, energetic midfielder signed his first professional contract in August, and has scored one goal across four league performances this season.
Lively and physical, journalist Sam Bryne has noted that he has been "everywhere" in the Toffees U21 midfield this season, joining prolific forward Braiden Graham as being "probably Everton's best players".
Moyes is notoriously stubborn in his resistence against handing youngsters so many chances at the highest level, but some break through. See Wayne Rooney at Everton a dew decades ago, Declan Rice at West Ham United.
REUTERS/Toby Melville
There are more besides, but Matos is the real deal, age-belying in settling down as a mainstay for the U21s. He has won 9.26 duels and 4.37 tackles per 90 in the Premier League 2 this season, absurd numbers. That places him inside the top 3% of midfielders on both counts.
His overflowing gas tank of energy only deepens the argument that Everton could make good use of this one. Perhaps he needs to cut his teeth a little sharper at development level, but when called upon, he has all the tools he needs to step into Gueye's boots and rise to the fore in Moyes' first team.