Gueye 'is still a crucial player for Everton'

[Getty Images] David Downie from The Blue Room podcast believes Idrissa Gana Gueye is "still a crucial player for Everton", despite the midfielder being 36-years-old. Gueye is out of contract at the end of June, but the Toffees have offered him a new deal. "How old he is is the first thing people point out about him," said Downie to BBC Radio Merseyside. "He's 36 now, and Seamus Coleman has just left at a similar age so you'd think they were of a similar ilk. "I think he's still a crucial player for Everton, whether you like it or not. "If he's still going to be in the starting XI then it is a concern because we haven't found a natural successor to him. There is a variety of midfield players there that David Moyes could look at. "I think he will sign a new contract. But if you were to say to me he'll play in excess of 15 games then I would be concerned, because he did tail off considerably last season. "If he is the go-to central defensive player under Moyes, then there is going to be a serious problem at Everton that they will need to sort. "That probably starts the conversation around how much do Everton need to spend [in this transfer window]? Do you look at him and think 'we can get another season out of him,' or are they looking at him as a squad player and will go out and buy somebody who is the younger version of him? "It's quite the predicament. I think it's important he stays on as a squad player and Everton utilize him." Listen to the conversation on BBC Sounds here