Idrissa Gueye ‘another level’ at Everton as Alan Stubbs makes transfer verdict
Alan Stubbs believes Everton are one particular signing away from having a solid spine.
Everton continued their progress under David Moyes with a remarkable 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, 12 April.
A last-minute goal from Abdoulaye Doucoure saw the Toffees walk away from Nottingham with all three points and move to 13th place in the Premier League above Manchester United and Tottenham.
The Goodison Park outfit were battling relegation under Sean Dyche in January, but are now on course for a mid-table finish, thanks to the ‘fabulous’ job Moyes has done.
Stubbs wowed by Idrissa Gueye after what he did
Moyes has rightfully received plaudits from fans, journalists and pundits for steering Everton away from the relegation zone, but the players receive credit too.
Stubbs has particularly been impressed by the Toffees’ spine, including Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Baranthwaite.
The former defender has also been wowed by Idrissa Gueye, who he feels has taken his game to ‘another level’ since Moyes replaced Dyche.
| Mintues | Accurate Passes | Total Shots | Touches | Accurate Long Balls | Tackles Won | Recoveries | Ground Duels Won |
| 90 | 45/49 (92%) | 2 | 64 | 9/11 (82%) | 1/1 | 8 | 2/5 (40%) |
He added that the only thing Everton lack in their spine is a top striker, stressing the need for them to sign one in the upcoming summer transfer window.
“When you look at that spine now, we’ve got England’s number one there”, Stubbs said on the A View From The Bullens podcast (14 April).
“Then, you’ve got potentially one of the best young centre-backs in the country by far, and you’ve got James Tarkowski.
“He was, as we have always spoken about him, very steady, very reliable [against Forest]. I think he’s a great foil for Jarrad Branthwaite in terms of his experience and learning off him.
“Then, you look at Idrissa Gana Gueye, who seems to have taken his game to another level right now.
“And then, realistically, the next bit to that is… what we’re looking for is a top striker and, therefore, straightaway, the spine of your team is looking very good.”
🎙️| We are showing real positive signs. Moyes is getting the plaudits but the players deserve credit. We have a very strong spine to the team, England's number 1 in Pickford, one of the best young defenders in the country in Jarrad and a great defender in Tarkowski, Idrissa Gueye… pic.twitter.com/YoLbz0PS0O
— A View From The Bullens (@thebullensview) April 14, 2025
Gueye to leave Everton
There is no denying that Gueye has been a key player for Everton this season, particularly under Moyes, having started in 29 of their 32 Premier League games.
However, there are doubts about the Senegal international’s future on Merseyside beyond this season, as his existing contract expires this summer.
The 35-year-old is one of 13 players who have their contracts with Everton run out at the end of the season.
There are no indications that there is a new deal lined up for the veteran with the Toffees, meaning he is set to leave the club as a free agent, as things stand.
This means Moyes would have to sign another midfielder to keep his spine intact next season.