Kevin Thelwell transfer plan at Everton forced to change after exit news

Everton may see their hand forced in the transfer market ahead of January as Idrissa Gueye may well be ready to leave Merseyside.

Africa Foot reported on Monday [25 November] that Al-Duhail are preparing to tempt the 35-year-old with an offer to make him one of the highest-paid Senegalese footballers.

Sean Dyche is hardly blessed with options in central midfield, with James Garner set for weeks on the sidelines and Tim Iroegbunam facing an even longer spell out of the side as he nurses a foot injury.

The Blues cannot afford to allow Gueye to leave what is already a depleted engine room, but with this possibility set to become reality, Kevin Thelwell will be a busy man.

Everton must find a suitable replacement for Idrissa Gueye

Everton could already have their Gueye replacement in the ranks at Finch Farm, with Harrison Armstrong making waves in the academy set-up.

The 17-year-old was awarded his first-team bow in the Carabao Cup against Southampton and now finds himself training with the senior side after scoring twice in four outings for the Under-21s.

However, losing a player with Gueye's wealth of experience and replacing him with raw talent is hardly a sustainable solution for Everton, and while the squad is ageing, Thelwell must be active in the transfer market to replace the midfielder.

It appears that strengthening in central midfield is already at the forefront of thinking at Goodison Park: AS Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante has emerged as a genuine target, although a swap deal involving Beto will not be entertained [TEAMtalk].

Former Liverpool loanee and Fiorentina man Arthur is another among the options currently under consideration [Tuttosport], but after his disastrous spell on Merseyside with Liverpool last time out, the Brazilian should be avoided at all costs.

The options on the table could generate more excitement for the supporters, and therefore Thelwell must knuckle down and identify a worthwhile replacement for Gueye.

He has been a mainstay for the Blues in both his spells at Goodison Park, but at 35, how hard can it be for Thelwell to replace a player well within his retirement years?

In other Everton news, Farhad Moshiri's stance on Sean Dyche's sack has emerged at the Toffees.

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