Isn't the better question - why WOULD we sell Gana? 1 Keeping doesn't prevent us from doing anything.
But I can play this game if you'd like. We aren't revamping the midfield in a month, so that's not I'm assuming what you are suggesting. 2
If that's not the option, it's a real possibility that Everton could not acquire a better player in the current side. Gomes and Sigurdsson are in the side, I cannot alter that. So as a result, Gana's replacement would need to be insanely active, covering an incredible amount of territory, first and foremost. 3
Since you think Ligue 1 and every other league outside of the PL is a farmers league, we could take a look at the PL, but we'd find out that there's no one in the PL that has more defensive duels than him in the midfield, so that's kind of a problem. 4
Maybe if we just got someone that was still well above average defensively and covered ground, but also has more forward passes, even though he leads our team, which leaves us with Ander Herrera? Romain Saiss has a ton of defensive duels per 90. But neither of those two cover the ground that Gana does, so that's not going to work and Herrera is in Paris. Fred? He's above average defensively, but he's not in Gana's league. He might be slightly better than Gana at pushing the ball forward, although he's not very accurate with it, although I'm sure we could get him from Man U for some discount on the 60M Euros Man U paid for him last year. But it'd cost more than whatever we'd sell Gana for. 5
You could make a case that Ndidi is as good a defender for a defensive midfielder Gana is I suppose. But he's not even close offensively.
But look, if I thought we could sell Gana, and get slightly worse in midfield, yet use the funds to get much better elsewhere, that would be fine. 6 But not only do I not think that would happen very easily, we don't have to. Why would we? 7
1. A few reasons, profit on his sale, the fact that I suspect he really wants to leave, the shell of a player we would retain after we snatch his dream move away twice.
2. Not a revamp, try something new, you can change 1 player without calling it a revamp.
3. I do not share your mistrust in Gomes ability to take up some of the slack
4. I might think they are farmers leagues, but im ok with getting players in from there, they are a major gamble, but I trust Brands eye for talent, so if Brands wants Delph, I want Delph, if Brands wants somebody from Farmers FC, so do I
5. I wouldnt be buying any overpriced tat currently in the league, there are a few exceptions, the aforementioned Delph for example, somebody I wouldnt have picked, but somebody that if he stays fit I think would be an asset
6. Thats my goal, we probably wont be able to replace Gana and get money in the bank, but it helps us with regards FFP, something I know few people care about, but its something on my mind
7. No, we dont have to, we could always stand still, keep playing the same way and hoping we achieve different results or we could try a different player and hope that Gomes and Iceland can pick up the slack
It boils down to this, we both agree that Gana is a superb player and we both agree that hes pretty central to our current system, him sitting allows Iceland and Gomes to push forward, it allows the fullbacks to push on and he gives the CBs a shield, that we can agree on?
I think that we can replace Gana with a player with less defensive skills and slightly more offensive skills, maybe somebody with a better passing range, maybe somebody who can drive the ball once they win it, but of course they would have slightly different defensive skills.
No, I cant name the player, I havent watched anything other than Everton, a few other prem games, the odd CL game and some cup games for a season or 2. Gana Gueye, Kante, Vardy, Digne, these are just some names of players I hadnt heard of until they blew up, so im hopeful that my hero is out there and im very hopeful that Brands can find him.
tl;dr You want to stick on 20 and I want to twist on 17, my 4 is out there.
I should point out ive had to stop all forms of gambling, due to never getting that 4, but this isnt me, this isnt a gamble, this is Marcel Brands only buying ballers.