Idrissa Gueye has revealed to L’Equipe he wants to quit Everton at the end of the season.
The Merseysiders blocked the Senegal midfielder from quitting for Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window even though he pushed hard for a move.
Gueye expressed his sadness at being denied a move to the European giants but explained he will redouble his efforts to get a a marquee transfer from Goodison Park in the summer.
“It is a dream that sadly did not come true,” Gueye told French newspaper L’Equipe. “Every player works to join the best teams, to play in such matches in the Champions’ League. But I was honoured that PSG were interested in me.
“Now, I know that I am of interest to these types of clubs, that I am ready to go to the final level to join a top European club. I am going to work even more so that they come back to me. Maybe it is not finished with PSG.”
Gueye explained how Everton refused to let him move in January.
“They put the brakes on immediately,” he added to L’Equipe. “I pushed. I told the club I wanted to take this golden opportunity to go to Paris. A huge challenge, especially at the age of 29.”
OPINION
Everton fans reading this can be forgiven for feeling very miffed; that their club is viewed as a key first teamer as a mere stepping stone to bigger things, and that said first teamer clearly doesn’t want to be at Goodison. At least the club’s top brass were sensible enough to block Gueye from leaving in January. There was no sense in letting him go unless a blue-chip replacement was lined up. Clearly, that wasn’t the case, even though the sums being talked about for a player who joined from Aston Villa for £7million and who turns 30 in April were eyebrow-raising. It was reported that PSG bid over £30million for the central midfielder who has been a regular starter not only under Marco Silva, but also his predecessors Sam Allardyce and Ronald Koeman. Everton are certainly a stronger side when Gueye is anchoring the midfield and laying the foundations for the attacking players to do their thing. Blues will be unimpressed by his come-and-get-me plea, though. Surely, he could have waited until the end of the season.