CAN DELPH REPLACE GUEYE?

 

With Idrissa Gueye potentially sealing a move to PSG this summer, his departure would leave a big gap in Everton’s midfield. Is new signing, Fabian Delph, good enough to replace such an important player? Make sure to check out the Toffee TV YouTube channel for more transfer news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4eztrczxQQ&t=2s

It seems as though Idrissa Gueye will finally secure his move to French Champions, PSG. The transfer was heavily rumoured during the January transfer window, but seems as though it now may materialise.

Turning 30 this year, it’s probably Gueye’s last chance to move to a team with Champions League football, and so it makes sense for the player personally. Furthermore, Gueye has always been a great servant for Everton, even after making it clear he wanted the move away. He produced some terrific performances towards the end of the season, and so it’s difficult to begrudge the player for wanting to leave.

PSG will reportedly pay around £35 million for Gueye; a sufficient amount of money to use to find a replacement. However, has the replacement already been bought? Is Fabian Delph that player?

Fabian Delph recently joined Everton from Manchester City for a fee of £8.5 million, excluding add-ons. The versatile 29-year-old was initially viewed by fans as a good squad player, and a good replacement for unavailable starting players. However with Gueye seemingly leaving, and Delph being given the number ‘8’ shirt, Evertonians are beginning to speculate as to whether he will be a regular starter.

Although Delph is probably good enough to start for Everton, positionally he’s different to Gueye. When playing in central-midfield, he’s more of a box-to-box midfield player and is therefore better going forward, and better on the ball. Contrastingly, Gueye is more effective off the ball, and better overall defensively.

Delph could potentially adapt his style of play to suit the team. He’d have to be more defensive, and concentrate on being the defensive screen in-front of the back four. It’s likely that he would be able to perform this role, however, whether he could do it as well as Gueye, is doubtful.

There’s also the question of whether Everton could afford to sign a replacement, as well as the other targets. As it stands, Everton have already spent around £30m. If a new striker, winger, and centre back come are signed, the gross spend would surpass £100m.

The money retrieved for Gueye may be used to contribute to a reduced net spend. And therefore, the club may decide to settle on Delph as Gueye’s replacement. This may be an option, particularly with the large amounts of spending in recent seasons, as well as the building of the new stadium.

However this would probably be the wrong decision, and would leave Evertonians’ disappointed. Gueye is a very important player, and should be replaced sufficiently- even if that means sacrificing one of the other signings (eg. winger).

Although Delph is a very capable player, he’s not proven to be as good defensively as Gueye, and this is of great importance, particularly when playing alongside the more offensive Andre Gomes and Gylfi Sigurdsson. As well as these players, the attacking full-backs of Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne make it essential that an excellent defensive midfielder is needed.

It will be interesting to see what decision Everton make on this issue. Make sure to subscribe to the Toffee TV YouTube channel.

 

BILLY MINSHALL