Everton could be set to replace Idrissa Gana Gueye with either Pape Gueye or Mandela Keita, according to a report from Teamtalk cited by BBC Sport's gossip column. The Blues are awaiting a decision from the 36-year-old Senegalese midfielder, whose contract expired at the end of June 2026, as the club continues to liaise with him over his future.
Idrissa Gueye's Contract Situation
Idrissa Gueye, Everton's most capped Senegalese player, became a free agent after his World Cup campaign with Senegal, where the Lions of Teranga exited in the first knockout round following a 3-2 loss to Belgium. During the team's time in North America, Gueye's wife Pauline sparked speculation by posting images of her "busy packing" on social media, telling followers she had "long days sorting." Meanwhile, James Garner signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract in January, committing to the club until 2030, and won his first two England caps while being named Everton's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season.
Pape Gueye: A Taller Namesake
Pape Gueye, 27, is a Villarreal and Senegal international with 46 caps and seven international goals. Born in Montreuil, France, on January 24, 1999, he stands 6ft 2in—seven inches taller than Idrissa. He began his career at Le Havre and had a brief stint at Watford in 2020 that lasted only 24 hours; he joined the Hertfordshire club but claimed he was misled by his agent about his salary, believing it was £45,000 per week instead of £45,000 per month, and was sold to Olympique Marseille the next day. After a loan at Sevilla in 2023, he joined Villarreal on a free transfer in 2024. He has played 75 times for the Spanish side, scoring 10 goals (five in each season).
According to Comparisonator, Pape Gueye scores 6.6 out of 10 as a box-to-box midfielder, active in all thirds of the pitch, and 4.9 as a ball-winning midfielder. His expected goals (xG) of 0.16 per 90 minutes would rank seventh in the Premier League, behind Bruno Fernandes (0.41). He would sit eighth for shots (1.36) and ninth for shots on target (0.43).
Mandela Keita: A Disruptor Midfielder
Mandela Keita, 24, was born in Leuven, Belgium, on May 10, 2002. He started his career with hometown club OH Leuven, then played for Antwerp on loan. He earned his only Belgium cap to date with a three-minute cameo in a 3-2 win over Austria on October 13, 2023. He joined Parma on August 30, 2024, and has played 68 matches for the Italian side, scoring once.
Comparisonator gives Keita a 6.9 out of 10 as a 'disruptor midfielder,' with a focus on tackles, interceptions, and pressure. He scores 5.2 as a box-to-box midfielder and 2.7 as a maestro. His playing style is a 97% match to compatriot Romeo Lavia of Chelsea and 86% to Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa. His standout statistic is a maximum speed of 35.24 km/h, which only three Premier League players surpass: Adam Wharton (35.97), Pape Matar Sarr (35.77), and Declan Rice (35.39). He also averages 5.93 ball losses per 90 minutes, which would rank seventh in the Premier League, behind Ilia Gruev (4.47).
Defensive Prowess Compared
Perhaps most tellingly, both Keita (78%) and Pape Gueye (76%) have higher percentages for successful defensive actions than Premier League leader Moises Caicedo of Chelsea (72%), according to Comparisonator data. This suggests either could bolster Everton's midfield if Idrissa Gueye departs.
Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues worldwide, comparing players and clubs using 378 parameters.
