Walsh – Gueye can be our Kante

Everton director of football Steve Wash believes new boy Idrissa Gueye could have the same influence on the Toffees as N’Golo Kante had on Leicester last season.

Walsh was the man who famously brought the previously unheralded Kante to the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2015 and the Frenchman went on to play a key role as the Foxes won the Premier League title.

Since then Walsh has moved to Merseyside and has set about trying to put in place a similar structure to which brought such great success to Leicester.

The acquisition of Gueye was one of his key dealings over the summer and after showing signs of promise last term at Aston Villa, he has already established himself as a crucial part of Ronald Koeman’s side.

Despite a current run of poor results, the talent within the Everton squad means they could well finish in the top four, a feat they are 9.00 to achieve.

Having struggled defensively last season, Gueye has added some much needed steel and Walsh believes the 27-year-old could have a similar impact to which Kante enjoyed last term at Leicester.

He told the Everton magazine: “I told the manager to have a look at this lad because I think he can do all the things we want him to do.

“We earmarked the fact that we were looking for a bit more energy from that part of the field.

“Don’t put too much on his shoulders but he is a little bit like Kante. You’ll see that when he presses.

He just needs now to show a little bit more discipline and he’ll be a really good player for us, we believe.”