Everton manager Marco Silva expects Idrissa Gueye to quickly show his best form again after the club rejected an offer from Paris St Germain in the final days of the January transfer window.
Silva admitted the midfielder was likely to be “disappointed” the offer, reportedly worth £21m, was not accepted but said the deal was never close and Gueye was happy at the club.
“I know Idrissa very well, he is a good professional and a fantastic boy,” he said.
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“He really likes our club, he is enjoying playing in our club.
“When a club like PSG comes in it is normal he starts to think about his future but now he has stopped, the market is closed and I don’t have doubts we will see the best Idrissa Gana again.”
Silva insisted Gueye was happy at Everton, saying: “You can use the word disappointed and of course it was a good opportunity for him, but it is a fantastic opportunity for him to stay with us also.”
Asked if the deal ever appeared close to happening, Silva said: “From the feedback I had with the board, they never told me the deal will be done or not, they didn’t tell me it was close, and they never told me we need to prepare to replace Gana.
“I think with this information you can take your conclusion.”
Everton face Wolves - two points above them in seventh place - on Saturday, pitting Silva against a familiar face in fellow Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo.
“Of course I know him well, we played against each other in Portugal, and we started this season playing against each other in the first match,” he said.
“I’m 100% sure it will be a good team with good organised players in a good moment. (Raul) Jimenez and Jota are in a good moment in attack and they always have a solid block with five defenders.
“It will be really tough but for sure they will come here and think the same, how it will be a tough game for them at Goodison.”
