Everton ace Idrissa Gueye provides hope for future with official stats amid worrying Amadou Onana update
Given the fact they have been involved in two successive Premier League relegation battles, Everton look certain to lose a handful of their star players this summer.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could be one of the first to leave Goodison Park in the coming weeks and months, with the England ace definitely deserving of a place higher up the table.
The same could be said for midfield maestro Amadou Onana, who Everton are in real danger of losing after just one year.
Worryingly for the Toffees, the midfielder “absolutely wants to leave” the Merseyside club this summer, according to Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir (20 June).
And according to former Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones (20 June), Premier League giants Arsenal are considering a summer swoop for the young Belgian.
While he would be a major loss for Everton next season, the club can take some confidence from the presence of his fellow midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
The experienced Senegal international made 266 ball recoveries in the most recent Premier League campaign, bettered only by West Ham captain Declan Rice (334) and Manchester City ace Rodri (301), as per the official Premier League website.
Furthermore, it was only Hammers star Rice (140) who won more possession in the defensive third than Gueye (119) last season.
Such figures are made even more impressive given Everton’s worrying finish in the table, with the Toffees just about avoiding relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season.
Manager Sean Dyche definitely needs to improve his midfield regardless of Onana’s future, but he can rest somewhat in knowing that he can still very much rely on 33-year-old Gueye to do a fine job in central midfield.