Everton consider Lille’s Thiago Mendes as Gueye replacement

With the January transfer window now in full swing it wasn’t going to take long before Everton started getting in on the action. Surprisingly, though, it’s departures that are headline news at the moment and top of the list is Idrissa Gana Gueye.

According to a number of reports, including this one today, the Senegal midfielder is a target for Paris Saint Germain. The French champions are on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder and with Gueye not cup tied in Europe, he’s an ideal option.

So far Everton have resisted their advances and slapped a €40 million (£35m) price tag on his head, a price PSG can’t afford due to Financial Fair Play restrictions.

However, it seems the Blues aren’t entirely certain they’ll be able to hold back the French assault forever and are putting contingency plans in place should Gueye eventually depart.

Several reports have already linked them to ‘the Colombian Kante’ Wilmar Barrios and now a new link has emerged from France. Dug up by Sport Witness, via Telefoot, Everton are apparently keeping track of midfielder Thiago Mendes.

The Brazilian is currently plying his trade with Lyon and has caught the eye of the Toffees scouting network, who have presumably been informed to look out for replacements for Gueye.

Indeed, according to reports, Mendes has also been sounded by PSG themselves as they hunt for their own defensive midfielder.

The report believes that a fee of around €30m (£26 million) would be enough to tempt Lille into a sale as they need the cash to balance the books this year. It does, however, stress no move would be made until Gueye is sold so this may be one to hold on reserve until later in the window.