Idrissa Gueye believes Dwight McNeil is still “an important player” for Everton and hopes he can bounce back after the winger’s Deadline Day move to Crystal Palace collapsed in dramatic fashion.
The London-based side had agreed a loan deal with an obligation to buy at £20m. They submitted the deal sheet within the 7:00 pm deadline but the move collapsed after the paperwork wasn’t submitted in time. McNeil is believed to have been offered a four-year contract beginning from the summer after undergoing a medical.
However, his partner, Megan Sharpley, accused Palace of going “radio silent” and “toying with the player’s mental health” after failing to communicate when the move fell through.
Idrissa Gueye, one of the senior members of the Everton squad, backed his teammate and hopes he will bounce back quickly in the remainder of the season.
"I am very happy to have him back personally," the midfielder told Sky Sports News. "Dwight is a great lad and he works hard.
“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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1 Posted 04/02/2026 at 14:06:46