OPINION
Idrissa Gueye was at the heart of the action yesterday as Everton defeated Burnley 2-0 in their last home fixture of the season.
Tim Cahill had a lot to say with regards to the 29-year old, claiming he is the player that Everton need to aim to keep this summer.
Speaking on Sky Sports (Sky Sports Premier League, Friday, May 3rd, 22:02) after the game, Cahill said: “We spoke about him before the game, how important he is for this team,
“After his performance tonight, he’s definitely the player that Everton need to keep.”
Cahill is spot-on with his verdict on Gueye as he is a player the Toffees need to keep and the club must heed his remarks by going all out to secure the midfielder’s future.
Since his arrival at Goodison Park back in August 2016, Gueye has been an absolute revolution for Everton, cementing his place as a key player in Marco Silva’s side.
Arguably, he is one of the reasons why Everton have been so good defensively in recent weeks, as his hard work and determination to win the ball back in defensive areas is always appreciated by his teammates.
Although he may not add too many goals and assists to the team, Gueye brings a sense of safety for the Everton defenders which can not easily be replicated by any other player.
In their last three Premier League fixtures, Silva’s side have not conceded a single goal. Along with the likes of Jordan Pickford and the defensive partnership of Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma, Gueye has been key to this impressive defensive record.
If Everton were to lose the Senegal international in the summer, they would certainly find a difficult task in trying to replace him, however they should be able to keep him on Merseyside, unless some of the big boys come calling.
Silva will surely be making it a priority to make sure Gueye is playing his football at Goodison Park again next season, along with ensuring he brings other players into the club, and securing some permanent deals for players who are currently only on loan.