Gana: Why I'll Be Even Better Next Season

This week, Everton boss Sam Allardyce drew similarities between Idrissa Gueye and Chelsea star N'Golo Kante.

He told Everton's official website: “He has this N’Golo Kante-like style and we have heard the praise about Kante and what he did for Leicester City. So I think Gana is that type of player for us.

“And his capabilities in possession are very good, he rarely gives the ball away and that is what we need. He gives us a real consistency.”

Allardyce's comparison might have been slightly more accurate than even he himself knew at the time because, according to Opta stats, there doesn't appear to be a lot between them.

Both are defensive midfielders and therefore the statistics are relevant to the two of them.
The Everton star, an £8 million signing from Aston Villa in 2015, has managed to win more ball recoveries, more tackles and more duels than the highly-rated France international.

One area where the Chelsea man is clearly ahead is passing, with Kante completing 1,608 of his attempted 1,796 passes [89%], whereas Gueye has 1,121 from 1,324 [84%].



Kante obviously finds himself in possession more regularly, but even still it would appear as if the Toffees ace knows how to draw a foul, having won a massive 36 more free kicks for his side than Kante - a significant difference when you consider that the Frenchman has played 130 minutes more than his Senegalese counterpart in the Premier League.

Considering there isn't a huge difference in their importance to Everton and Chelsea, you have to then assume that there shouldn't be much difference in value and by virtue of the fact that Kante is worth £72 million [CIES Football Observatory] it is reasonable to suggest that Everton should be asking for a similar amount if rival clubs come knocking this summer.