Manchester United Opinion: Why United should avoid signing Idrissa Gueye?

According to a report from the Evening Standard, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is interested in Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

The Senegalese international, 29, has been crucial for the Toffees with his performances ever since he arrived to the Merseyside club in 2016. The midfielder was interested in a move to Paris Saint-Germain in January, but Everton blocked the transfer as manager Marco Silva wasn’t keen to lose one of his most important players half-way through the campaign.

The Toffees’ reluctance to accept PSG’s bid didn’t influence Idrissa Gueye’s performances on the field in the second half of the season. In all, he featured in 33 league games this term, helping Everton to an eighth-place finish in the table with his impressive and consistent performances in the heart of the midfield.

The report claims Solskjaer wants Gueye due to his wealth of Premier League experience and relatively modest fee, which could be around £30m. But it is a signing the Manchester United boss should avoid in the summer transfer window.

Solskjaer is aware his side are in need of strengthening this transfer window after a terrible Premier League campaign. United finished sixth in the table, meaning they missed out on the Champions League and will instead be playing in the Europa League next season.

The Red Devils lost Marouane Fellaini in January and Ander Herrera has also left the club following the expiry of his contract. Juan Mata could also follow Herrera out of the club after failing to agree on a new deal with United. Fred endured a disappointing debut season, Nemanja Matic is ageing and Andreas Pereira hasn’t done enough to guarantee a regular spot in the team next term.

So it’s clear Solskjaer needs at least a couple of midfielders to build his squad for the next season. Idrissa Gueye has been in England since 2015, establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in recent years. The Senegalese is an expert ball winner, excellent in breaking up opposition’s play with his energy and aggressive tackling.

The former Aston Villa star is a consistent performer and has also gained volumes of experience in the top-flight. But Gueye is about to turn 30 later this month and spending around £30m for his services will not be a wise decision. It clearly feels as if Everton are over-pricing the player who has little re-sale value.

Verdict

United have a lot of concerns at midfield but Solskjaer has already spoken of his desire to rebuild the squad. That means a more patient and smart approach to that of the club’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson recruitment strategy.

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And Gueye represents the complete opposite of the profile the Red Devils want to build their exciting, new future around.