Everton Deny Idrissa Gueye Transfer Request Amid PSG Interest

Everton have denied reports Idrissa Gueye has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move from the Toffees to Paris Saint-Germain after the French champions recently bid £21.5 million for him. 

Sky Sports News initially reported Gueye had "written to club officials pleading with them to allow him" to leave for PSG.

But Everton later told the same outlet they have received no such plea from Gueye and remain adamant he is not for sale.

Gueye, 29, has a contract at Goodison Park until 2022, so an offer of £21.5 million was never likely to prove tempting to Everton, even if they were open to selling him:

PSG will need to submit a much-improved bid before the end of the January transfer window if they are to succeed in their move for the midfielder. 

Not only will Everton be concerned about getting a decent fee for Gueye, they would also have very little time to replace him before the January window shuts on Thursday if they sold him.

Morgan Schneiderlin could theoretically deputise until the summer, while James McCarthy is nearing a return to action following a broken leg.

But Gueye would be a huge loss for Marco Silva's side as he has been a rock in the centre of Everton's midfield this term:

The former Lille player's combative nature is surely one of the main attractions for PSG.

Thomas Tuchel's side often play brilliant attacking football, but they are lacking steel in their engine room. They will also lose Adrien Rabiot when his contract expires in June, leaving a big hole in their midfield.

Signing Gueye makes a lot of sense for PSG. But it is understandable, especially in the January transfer window, that Everton are not going to let him go easily.