PSG table bid for Idrissa Gueye, but do Everton have the funds to replace him?

A story that has been heavily featured in the rumour mill over the past week, it appears that Idrissa Gueye’s potential move to PSG has taken another twist.

With the defending Ligue 1 champions taking an interest in the holding midfielder, French news outlet L’Equipe are reporting that Thomas Tuchel’s side have tabled a €25million bid to Everton.

Les Parisiens had also been keeping tabs on Chelsea target Leandro Paredes but are unwilling to match Zenit St Petersburg’s £40million valuation.

While it is believed that Everton are also looking for a £40million payout, Gueye has made both parties aware of his eagerness to secure a move to the French capital and PSG are confident of landing their man.

#PSG are ready to make a €25m bid for Everton's Idrissa Gueye, according to L'Equipe, who say the player is determined to go. Priced out of a move for Zenit's Leandro Paredes.

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) January 22, 2019

 

Gueye on his way to PSG?

With Adrien Rabiot appearing more likely to be ending his tenure at PSG, the European heavyweights have made it no secret they’re looking to shore up their midfield options.

Coupled with the news that Marco Verratti picked up an ankle injury during their 9-0 win over Guingamp, PSG are looking to secure Gueye’s services before they face Rennes this weekend.

Speaking at their warm-weather camp in Qatar last week, PSG captain Thiago Silva confirmed that he will “pay attention” to the rumours linking Gueye with a move to the Parc des Princes.

“I don’t know them too well but we’ll try to pay attention now that we know the situation!”

“But I do know that they have the quality to play in Paris and they will be welcome if they arrive.

“We haven’t spoken about it between ourselves in the squad, but we trust Antero [Henrique, sporting director], Maxwell and the president too.”

Despite both Everton and PSG still standing some way off in their valuation of the 29-year-old, Le Parisien are reporting that Gueye has already agreed on personal terms.

It has also been suggested that the Senegal international has even reached out to PSG players to discuss his potential move and you can bet on Everton with the Parimatch welcome bonus for this weekend.

Although a fee is yet to be formally agreed between the two parties, super-agent Pini Zahavi has been talking to the Toffees on behalf of the French champions.

 

Do Everton have the money to find a replacement?

If arguably Everton’s most prized possession is on his way to PSG in January, the question then becomes how do they replace Gueye’s presence in the heart of their midfield?

Since moving from Aston Villa back in 2016 following their relegation to the Championship, the 29-year-old has been a constant at Goodison Park.

Featuring in 20 of Everton’s top-flight games this season, many have Gueye tipped to be one of the best defensive midfielders in England, only behind Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.

Despite the Blues’ public struggles of late, the central midfielder is enjoying another impressive year statistically.

Averaging 4.3 tackles per game, it is the second highest tally in the Premier League, second to Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira.

Sadly for Everton, Gueye’s departure would unlikely see a replacement head to Merseyside in January.

After bringing in Richarlison, Lucas Digne and Yerry Mina in the last transfer window, under pressure Everton boss Marco Silva has revealed the Toffees are unable to add any new additions this month.

Speaking last Thursday, the former Watford boss said:

“When you asked me the last few weeks the possible players coming or not in the market, I told you that you just can’t sign someone if someone leaves the club or we sell someone,”

“We don’t have the financial conditions to go in the market, [that] is the feedback I have at the moment. I have to find different solutions.”

Spending over £200million in the past two seasons and boasting one of the highest wage bills in the Premier League, one Everton fans has broken down the Blues’ potential financial difficulties.

I don't think the reason we can't spend money now is regulations as much as its that we are paying a lot of people a lot of money not to play for us.

We have 41 players on our first-team squad (according to Everton's website).

Only 18 have played > 20% of 18-19 PL minutes.

— Trigger (@Trigger_1878) January 18, 2019

The other 5 that are over 23 but don't contribute to the PL (Garbutt, Tarashaj, Besic, Pennington, and Sandro) will likely never meaningfully contribute, but are (with the exception of Sandro) on low enough contracts that they don't harm us much.

— Trigger (@Trigger_1878) January 18, 2019

In short, we're not going to sign anyone cause we're spending too much, and there's very little relief in sight, unless Brands can pull of some selling miracles.

— Trigger (@Trigger_1878) January 18, 2019

Coming off the back of another lackluster showing in their 2-1 defeat against Southampton last weekend, fans have been left unimpressed by both Silva and Everton’s high-profile arrivals.

The Blues have now lost three of their last four top-flight appearances and now find themselves sat outside the top-half of the table.

Given Everton’s financial restraints and Silva confirming there will be no funds in January, should the Toffees take the money or resist PSG’s pursuit of Gueye?

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