Everton transfer news: ‘Absolutely committed’ Conor Coady exit ‘shame’ – Dominic King
It is a “shame” that Everton did not sign Conor Coady permanently because he was “absolutely committed” to the club despite his previous Liverpool links, according to Dominic King.
The defender’s departure back to Wolves was confirmed on Thursday (1 June) as the 30-year-old’s £4.5million permanent option was not triggered.
While the England international was a regular under Frank Lampard, and wore the captain’s armband for the 1-0 win over West Ham on 18 September, Sean Dyche largely preferred Michael Keane, and although Coady started the crucial win over Bournemouth on the final day the manager has decided to go in a different direction.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside the Daily Mail journalist said: “I think there’s been some indication about if for a few weeks or so. I think it’s a shame.
“He’s been an outstanding character around the place and he absolutely made a difference when he was brought back into the team towards the end.
“I thought he was certainly one of the best performers against Bournemouth on Sunday, and he’s left a nice little message on Instagram about how proud he was to play for Everton, never mind his Liverpool links of the past.
“He absolutely was committed to Everton wholeheartedly and I thought he had a very good season.”
Unfortunate
If money were no object then £4.5million for Coady as a squad option would have been a nice deal to get done, but it is unlikely that the transfer budget is going to be extensive so Dyche clearly didn’t see it as worth it in the grand scheme of things.
The fact that his option wasn’t triggered earlier in the season had raised doubts over the finances, especially after Lampard had publicly stated that it was a deal that he wanted done [Daily Mail, 23 December].
But with the former manager now long-gone from Goodison Park it was perhaps sensible that the club left it before making a decision.
Whether by luck or design Dyche won’t have a player on his wage bill that he doesn’t see as a starter, but the true wisdom of both his and the club’s decision to move on from Coady will only become clear after the transfer window.
Yerry Mina has also departed at the end of his contract, and there are doubts over the futures of both Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate [Times, 1 June], which potentially increases the chances that Jarrad Branthwaite is set for a greater role.
Everton fans will have learned not to bank on signings in the transfer window but it certainly feels like a new arrival at the position is on the cards, so the hope will be that whoever it is can emulate last season’s free agent signing of James Tarkowski who was the only player to feature in every minute during the Premier League season.