View: Friedkin's have to trigger contract clause with 87% star, the stats prove it

Friedkin Group have no choice but to trigger their clause to extend Idrissa Gueye’s Everton contract.

The Senegal ace could leave in the summer if the option to take his deal until the summer of 2027 is not activated.

The 36-year-old has performed at an elite level so far this season, so there should be no hesitation over giving him an extra year at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He provides valuable experience, and his performances have not dropped despite his advancing age, so it is an obvious decision.

If Everton qualify for Europe at the end of the season, the former Paris Saint-Germain man would have played a key part, and the stats prove it.

Why Gueye has earned an Everton contract extension

Gueye is expected to start Everton’s next match with Brentford, and he can continue the brilliant form that he has shown this season.

The veteran has made 22 Premier League appearances, starting in all of those games, playing a total of 1851 minutes in the competition.

He has recorded an 87 per cent pass accuracy so far, and averages 0.5 key passes per game, according to data from Sofascore.

Defensively, his excellence is clear, making 1.9 tackles per game, 4.7 ball recoveries per game and 1.2 interceptions.

In terms of duels, he has won 58 per cent of those he has attempted on the ground and 62 per cent of those contested in the air.

The numbers show that he is not slowing down and can still influence games.

Why it makes no sense to let Gueye leave

Everton can’t let him leave for free by not exercising the option, it is that simple, he is still too good for that to happen.

The Friedkin’s must be clever and allow him to play at the top level for another season, and experience European football with the L3 club, if they can qualify.

Even if his game time is reduced, he can still make a difference when it matters, and he can also help a potential replacement to settle in and teach them.

It is a no-brainer for the Toffees, and they must act quickly to secure his future, before he chooses to move on and give someone else his talents.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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