Idrissa Gueye, Everton and the search for the heir to his battle throne

"They need more of his type.

"It's him who has the tenacity during the tough times of the first half, while it's tough for his team." Group pick. "

That's what Gary Neville said during his observations for Sky Sports at Goodison Park in March when Everton beat Chelsea 2-0 – their first three-game home wins against the "Big Six" opponents with wins against Arsenal (1-0) and Manchester United (4-0) to follow.

But instead of strengthening the team with more players of its kind, the Blues must now replace Idrissa Gueye.

Everton has transformed the star-studded star of last season, Andre Gomes, into a star, in addition to adding Fabian Delph to the engine room, but Marco Silva insists that the latter does not replace Gueye and that we have to find an alternative.

Sanctioning the sale of a player who turns 30 at the start of next season may not be as easy as in other cases.

As Silva had stated after the 2-0 win over Chelsea: "The second half of Gana has been really good and that is the Gana I know and the Gana we need as a team. ;team."

The midfielder's dynamo wanted to leave for Paris Saint Germain in January and had since said he would not give up his dream of playing in a Champions League club.

His sale would leave a considerable gap in the two areas in which he excels: interceptions and especially the fight.

Since arriving in the Premier League, the Senegalese international has ranked second, first and second for the total tackles each season.

He is third on the current list, behind Wlifred Ndidi and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

So, as Marcel Brands and his scouting team scour the European markets for players, will they find an heir to the throne fighting Gueye?

Is there an emerging midfielder who could take over with the 29-year-old ready to leave Goodison?

Based on the number of tackles made by 90 minutes, here are some of the top players from the top five European leagues, excluding the Premier League.

All players played at least 20 league games last season and, in accordance with Everton's recruitment policy of last summer, are 25 years old or younger.

Ibrahim Sangare

Age: 21

Club: Toulouse

Nationality: Ivorian

Height: 6ft 3in

Throw in 90 minutes: 4.2

Otavio

Age: 25 years

Club: Bordeaux

Nationality: Brazilian

Height: 5ft 9in

Throw in 90 minutes: 4.2

Lucas Tousart

Age: 22

Club: Lyon

French nationality

Height: 6ft 1in

90-minute tackle: 2.8

Konrad Laimer

Age: 21

Club: RB Leipzig

Nationality: Austrian

Height: 5ft 10in

Throw in 90 minutes: 3.7