Everton have a decision to make with Idrissa Gueye at the end of the season.
The Senegal international sees his contract expire this summer, but Everton can trigger a clause to keep the 36-year-old at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for a further 12 months.
That may well be something David Moyes opts to do given the vast experience of Idrissa Gueye – but in our view, his replacement is already being prepared at Finch Farm in Merlin Rohl.
Does Gueye need to be dropped? 🤔
Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Structure of Merlin Rohl deal suggests he will replace Idrissa Gueye
Everton signed the German on loan from Freiburg back in September, but the move will become permanent for a sum of £17.3m once the Toffees mathematically secured survival.
Currently sitting eighth with European football in sight, there is practically no chance of Everton going down, so this deal is edging closer with each passing week.
Rohl proved he can replace Gueye with a Man of the Match display in the 1-0 win at Villa Park, while the Senegalese star was out in Morocco winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Germany U21 international dropped to the bench as soon as the Everton No.27 returned, but that was to be expected given the seniority and quality of the former PSG star.
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Moyes even admitted it was hard to overlook Rohl for the 1-1 draw against Leeds after such a brilliant display at Villa Park, saying: “The team selection was difficult tonight because we chose not to play Merlin, who played very well against Aston Villa. We thought Gana getting back in would be the right thing to do.”
In our view, Everton do see the 23-year-old as a direct replacement for Gueye, but opted to arrange the deal 12 months early in fear of the midfield powerhouse enjoying a strong season at Freiburg and consequently becoming too expensive.
The Friedkin Group also could have been fearful of Freiburg inflating the asking price once Gueye officially becomes a free agent, aware that Everton would then be desperate for a new midfield stalwart.
Everton should not trigger the extra 12 months in Idrissa Gueye contract
While it will be sad to see Gueye depart this summer, it is the right call – and Everton must refrain from triggering the additional year in his terms.
The man born in Dakar is believed to earn £120,000-a-week on Merseyside, a large salary which could be put to better use luring younger talents to Everton.
Gueye also turns 37 in September and is already showing signs of struggling to handle the intensity of the Premier League nowadays, with large gaps opening up in midfield during his recent appearances.
Was that Merlin Rohl’s best game in an Everton shirt? 💪
Merlin Rohl stats vs Aston Villa.
With 229 appearances for the Toffees, Gueye is unquestionably a modern-day icon at Everton, but it makes little sense to keep him beyond the current campaign.
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