Everton meet release clause for Senegal's Gueye

Everton have met Aston Villa’s £7.1million release clause for Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye, with Ronald Koeman looking to secure his first big signing since taking charge at Goodison Park.


The 26-year-old Teranga Lions player joined Villa from Lille last year for a fee of roughly £9million and made 38 appearances across all competitions for the club, which suffered relegation from the Premier League.

The Senegalese is attracting interest from several different clubs, with a return to French football also a possibility for the Dakar-born player.

Villa and new coach Roberto Di Matteo have no intention of allowing Gueye to leave without a fight, even though they are looking to trim their squad ahead of what is expected to be a tough Championship campaign.

Villa chief executive Keith Wyness Tweeted that the Birmingham club want to keep the African midfielder: “Re idrissa gueye, we do not welcome any interest in this player from any club fightlikelions”