Gueye’s eyeing pal Kante’s flight plan to Prem success

we’ve achieved our first objective, which was to qualify for Europe.

“We set out to finish maybe fifth – and we fought for as long as we could to get there.

“We’re going to finish seventh, so we’re not so far away, but what we’ve got to do is make sure we keep progressing and keep growing as a squad and club to set out that ideal of hitting the top four.”

Gueye admitted Everton are “smarting” about finishing another campaign below rivals Liverpool. But Koeman’s men can do the Reds a huge favour by denying Arsenal the chance to mount a last-day bid for a Champions League slot.

Gueye said: “It stings me a bit – it smarts and hurts. You always want to be higher than your local rivals and we realise we’re behind them.

“It’s kind of like a separate battle outside of the league and we know it’s important to everyone, ourselves and the fans.

“So we want to do our best to reverse that situation next season.”

But it is his friend Kante that Gueye really has his sights on.

He said: “We met up at the airport quite by chance when we both flew to Birmingham and we got chatting.

“He’s a really nice guy and he has shown us all what can be achieved in the Premier League.”