Everton Turn To €40m LaLiga Midfielder: Should The Toffees Pay The Price? | OneFootball

Everton are shopping in Spain. Fresh off landing Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney last week, the recruitment team at Goodison Park have already lined up their next target. According to Spanish broadcasting giant Cadena Ser, via Sport Witness, Villarreal central midfielder Pape Gueye is high on David Moyes’ wishlist. The 27-year-old Senegal international is currently waiting to see where his future lies. Villarreal need cash. A major sale must happen to fund their own incoming business, making Gueye their most bankable asset.

Everton turn to La Liga as Moyes eyes €40m midfielder Pape Gueye

Informal chats have started. Everton haven’t dropped a concrete financial package on the table yet, but the intent is clear. Transfermarkt tags him at €40m. That price tag feels steep. Expect some serious haggling, especially since the player openly wants a change of scenery. Manchester United sniffed around back in February, if you believe the French press, but those links amounted to absolutely nothing. Gueye wants England. He is already taking language lessons to ensure he hits the ground running.

Why Gueye fits the Goodison midfield

TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 26: Pape Gueye #26 of Senegal scores his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Moyes needs muscle. The current engine room lacks a real physical presence to play alongside James Garner. Gueye changes that completely. Look at his numbers from the 2025/26 La Liga campaign. 30 appearances. Five goals from deep positions. He hits the penalty box at the right times.

More importantly, he moves the ball forward. Ranking in the 88th percentile for progressive passes completed in Spain, his vertical distribution will inject some much-needed speed into Everton’s transitions. He breaks lines. He tracks back. His robust frame is tailor-made for the absolute chaos of a Premier League midfield battle.

Tactical flexibility is the real bonus here. Put him next to Hackney, or let him anchor the midfield alone as a single pivot. Either way, he represents a massive step up from Tim Iroegbunam and Carlos Alcaraz, who look destined for the bench or another loan spell away from Merseyside. The recruitment team must analyse the finances carefully. Forking out the full forty million euros upfront makes zero sense for a club watching its balance sheet. A heavily structured deal is the smartest route.