Silva offers updates on Gueye, Zouma, Gomes and Neres

Everton manager Marco Silva says he is not worried about rumours linking midfielder Idrissa Gueye with a summer move to Manchester United.

The Evening Standard reported earlier on Thursday that Gueye, 29, will be lined up by Ole Gunnar Solskjær as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who is set to join Paris Saint-Germain.

But Silva, speaking at his pre-match press conference before Saturday’s trip to Fulham, said the speculation about Gueye, who nearly joined PSG himself in January, is natural:

“It’s new to me. I have no concerns about that, or all the other speculation in the media, and the speculation which will come in the next few days or weeks. It’s natural, and I’m not here to answer all of the rumours about Gana.

“What is important to me is that he’s playing well; he’s helping our team with full focus here, working hard every day to perform like he did in the last game again.”

Silva also said there have not yet been any talks regarding making the loan deals for Chelsea central defender Kurt Zouma and Barcelona midfielder André Gomes permanent before the end of the campaign.

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Both have enjoyed successful loan spells at Goodison Park this term, but Silva admitted that whether a permanent move is made for either would be out of their hands:

“Until now, I think no [conversations about signing Gomes or Zouma].

“There’s always a chance, but it’s not just in our hands. They are happy here; that’s a good sign. That means they’re performing, they’re enjoying themselves, they’re helping us also. We are happy with them.

“It’s up to us to do what we should do to try to keep them and it’s up to their clubs, and the player’s decision also, after their clubs.”

Silva also refused to comment on reports linking Ajax winger David Neres with a switch to Goodison.

Neres, 22, scored his 12th goal of the season in the Eredivisie league leaders’ 1-1 draw with Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, but Silva said until the end of the season, his focus is entirely on Everton’s five remaining games:

“In the same way that some of our players are linked with other clubs, it’s not to talk about now. Even if we are doing our work, the most important thing for us is to speak about Fulham, to think about Fulham, and to prepare for the Fulham match. Nothing more.

“The next game, and all the others until the end of the season, are so important ,and I don’t want to change the way we are doing. With full focus, we can be able to achieve a good result again.”