An 11th placed finish did no justice to Roberto Martinez’ efforts at the Goodison Park last season as the manager was not able to milk consistent results during the previous campaign. It was no surprise that it cost his job come the end of the season as Ronald Koeman was appointed in his place by the new cash-rich-owners of the club. However, with a new manager at the helm, a lot of things are set to change at the club next season with Koeman bringing in some top quality stars in Europe to help him lift the team into the top-half of the table and closer to a European spot.
One player who is set to make the switch to Everton in the coming days is Idrissa Gueye from Aston Villa. Roberto Di Matteo revealed earlier today that the 26-year old will complete a £7.1m move to Everton in the coming days in spite of interests from other clubs. So what does this Senegalese international add to Everton’s squad next summer? Is he a smart piece of business by Koeman?
The new manager at the Goodison Park has not really added too many players to his squad yet. He has signed Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham but is yet to make a serious move in the transfer market and is now expected to complete his second signing with the Aston Villa midfielder. The former Southampton manager is known to have a peculiar style of play that got the Saints to their best ever Premier League finish last season. The manager now knows that ins and outs of the Premier League and has enough experience and knowledge to identify players who can add some mettle to his squad and the 26-year old midfielder from Aston Villa will provide exactly that after he makes the move to the Merseyside.
Gueye is a midfielder by trait and is comfortable playing at a defensive or offensive midfield position. He is a gifted player who has good skill and technique but he needs to work on them for him to be effective in the midfield of a Premier League club. He is strong and athletic, something that will help him in the Premier League while his dribbling and passing abilities are also impressive. He does a great job of holding the ball in the midfield for his team and finds passes from a deep position that open opposition defenses up without too much fuzz.
But more than anything else, his defensive discipline is what attracted Ronald Koeman to move for him. The 26-year old is a constant presence in front of the back four and loves to provide cover to help out his defense. He has a great understanding of the game that helps him make a number of interceptions and Koeman will be hoping that he can establish himself as a first-choice midfielder at the club in the next few years.
Muhamed Besic, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry were used in that position at Everton last season but Barry will not be able to play every game next season and Koeman will hope that Gueye will take his place in the long term at the club. At just £7.1m, Idrissa Gueye move for Everton is a shrewd piece of business.
