Idrissa Gana Gueye has been a success since leaving Aston Villa for Everton.
Stoke’s Charlie Adam in action with Aston Villa’s Idrissa Gueye
Idrissa Gueye was a little of a conundrum at Aston Villa last season.
His statistics for interceptions and tackles made were right up there with Leicester City’s title winning midfielder N’Golo Kante, but he was part of the worst side in the league instead.
Villa won only three games, and ‘Gana’s overall effectiveness was called into question as a result.
One club who were not worried was Everton, who took the gamble to sign him last summer by meeting his release clause.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye celebrates scoring their first goal
Toffees’ director of football Steve Walsh has been talking about the move this week, and explained why it never quite worked at Villa Park.
He told the club’s official website: “He’s been terrific for us and, as my first signing, that’s not a bad little start.
“I watched him a few times because Aston Villa was just down the road. I always thought he had the ability but he was playing with a really poor back four and he was being bypassed quite a lot.
“It made his job so much more difficult. I remember thinking, ‘If I get a chance, this guy is better than he’s showing’.”
Gueye has lived up to expectations at Everton, helping them into seventh in the Premier League.
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