Everton can’t cry over potential Abdoulaye Doucoure exit after transfer news, club had chance to keep him – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Everton had their chance to keep Abdoulaye Doucouré out of other clubs’ grasp so cannot get “crazy” if he chooses to move, says Kevin Campbell.
The Mali midfielder has become a central part of Sean Dyche’s Toffees line up after being frozen out under Frank Lampard [Sky Sports, 5 March], but according to Fotospor on 13 March his agent has offered Besiktas the chance to sign him with his contract currently expiring in the summer.
After his red card against Tottenham on Monday (3 April) the Everton boss is going to have to find an alternative for three games, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell accepts the power is now all with the player over whether he will need a replacement for next season onwards as well.
“It’s out of your hands. His contract’s up at the end of the season so he’s in that position for a reason,” Campbell exclusively told Goodison News.
“He can choose where he wants to go. So you can’t start getting crazy about players in that position because he’s been at Everton for [three] years.
“Everton have had the opportunity to renew, they haven’t taken it.
“Rightly so he gets the opportunity to pick and choose where he goes.
“They key is will Everton see how valuable he is that they offer him a deal?
“And then he’ll have the opportunity to choose if he wants to stay at Everton.
“You can’t cry about something that you don’t have any power over.”
If it weren’t for Dyche then Doucouré would either have gone in January or likely agreed a deal elsewhere already, such was his standing under Lampard.
But prior to his sending off he had started every game under the former Burnley boss, scoring and assisting two goals each, to become a crucial part of the relegation battle.
A new contract could yet be on the cards, but if the 30-year-old’s agent is shopping him around Europe at the same time the door is wide open to an exit, and the red card might have just thrown a late spanner in the works.