Idrissa Gueye has become the first member of the Everton squad to publicly speak about Dwight McNeil’s deadline day move to Crystal Palace collapsing
Idrissa Gueye has sent a message to Dwight McNeil
Idrissa Gueye believes Dwight McNeil is still an important player for Everton and hopes he can bounce back after a move to Crystal Palace collapsed on deadline day. Palace had agreed a loan deal with an obligation for a £20million purchase for McNeil, who had fallen down the pecking order under David Moyes.
However, even though a deal sheet was submitted to the Premier League to grant the Palace two extra hours to complete the deal, the transfer collapsed due to paperwork not being completed in time. The 26-year-old, who joined the Blues from Burnley, is believed to have been offered a deal until 2030 and had undergone a medical.
In the fallout of the deal collapsing, McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, took to social media to lay bare the torment the couple suffered as the move fell through.
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Palace are yet to publicly comment on the events that occurred on Monday, but Everton are understood to have been left angry at how the deal collapsed, believing they had worked towards making the move possible.
But for Gueye, who has become the first member of the Blues squad to address what happened, says he is just delighted to have retained the services of an important player.
“I am very happy to have him back personally,” the midfielder told Sky Sports News. “Dwight is a great lad and he works hard.
Idrissa Gueye celebrates with Dwight McNeil after scoring for Everton against Crystal Palace(Image: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
“He has a lot of quality and was a really important player for us in the last few years when we were battling relegation. He is an important player for us.
“What happened to him? Hopefully he will just put it to the side and we will be there to welcome him, to make him comfortable.
“He just needs to work hard. He is still important for us, everyone is important in this team.”
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