Everton’s ideal XI following the January window

Idrissa Gueye

Midfielder Idrissa Gueye is currently away on African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal and, given that they have qualified for the last eight, he won’t be returning to Everton any time soon.

However, when he does return to the set-up, he’ll be pushing for a starting role, having started all 19 of the Toffees’ Premier League games prior to joining up with the Senegal squad at the start of month.

The 27-year-old was second only to Leicester’s N’Golo Kante in terms of interceptions made and tackles made in last season’s top-flight, while this term he has usurped the Frenchman at the top of the tackles made list.

Gueye’s influence in the Everton midfield cannot be understated, no Toffee has made more successful passes, interceptions, and tackles than he has, so he’s almost certain to be in Koeman’s strongest eleven when he returns from international duty.