PSG have been linked with a move for Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, whose departure could be a huge blow for the Merseyside giants as they attempt to land on Europa League football come the end of the season.
Therefore, coach Marco Silva will be entitled to buy a proper replacement for the Senegalese international, should he leave Goodison Park in the upcoming January transfer window and in this article, we will talk about three players who could serve as ideal candidates to do so.
Danny Drinkwater
It has been a rough season for Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater, who was deemed surplus to the requirements by head coach Maurizio Sarri earlier this campaign. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Community Shield match-up against Manchester City earlier in the season was Drinkwater’s only game of the season so far.
As a result, the former Premier League champion is destined to leave Stamford Bridge in January, which could serve as an excellent opportunity for Everton to attain his services.
Much like Gueye, Drinkwater is known for his excellent work-ethic and brilliant reading of the game. He is also a decent passer, who can complement Andre Gomes at the heart of Everton’s formation.
But most importantly, the 28-year-old is also bags a lot of experience in the English top flight and shouldn’t take too much time settling into the Merseyside outfit.
Diego Demme
RB Leipzig midfielder Diego Demme has been a consistent player in the German top flight for the past couple of seasons but following the departure of his favoured coach Ralph Hasenhuttl, the German could be looking for a way out of Red Bull Arena next month.
While Southampton will surely make a move should he decide to join the Premier League in January, Everton must also weigh in a bid for this highly talented midfielder, who is a hard worker and can easily facilitate the middle third of the pitch with some crisp passing.
Demme has played a key role in Leipzig’s pressing unit and given his work ethic and technical prowess in midfield, he’ll be ideally suited to Silva’s tactical philosophy at Everton.
Ruben-Loftus Cheek
While Ruben-Loftus Cheek might not be a like for like replacement for Gueye per se, the Chelsea midfielder is certainly in high demand after putting in a series of excellent performances throughout the year.
As a matter of fact, the England international has already netted six goals in just 15 appearances in all competitions this season, which is indicative of his attacking qualities.
Unlike Gueye, Loftus-Cheek often likes to move forward with driving runs into the final third. But at the same time, he’s also a well-rounded midfielder, who can track back and make some well-timed tackles.
Although Loftus-Cheek is currently unavailable for a permanent transfer, the 22-year-old surely faces an uncertain future at Chelsea, with Sarri struggling to accommodate him into his tactical setup.
Therefore, Everton should definitely snap him up on a loan-deal next month and hope that they can convince the Blues to ship him out on a permanent basis next summer.