Everton handed ‘Significant Boost’ as Abdoulaye Doucoure set to miss AFCON
Everton have been handed a “significant boost” ahead of January after it emerged Abdoulaye Doucoure is unlikely to go to AFCON with Mali, according to Liverpool Echo.
The Toffees midfielder is a key player for Sean Dyche and is currently the team’s top scorer since the manager arrived at the club at the start of 2023, replacing Frank Lampard who had sidelined him.
And now Doucoure is set to sign a new contract at Goodison Park to extend his stay at the club, and should be available in early 2024 as it looks “increasingly likely” that he will stay at Finch Farm instead of heading to the African Cup of Nations with his national team.
“In a further boost to Blues boss Sean Dyche the chances of the midfielder remaining with the club during the Africa Cup of Nations are looking increasingly likely,” they wrote (27 October).
“Doucoure has not represented Mali in recent internationals and, while no concrete decision has been made and the door remains open for a return, it currently looks like he will stay at Finch Farm.
“Should he do so, it would be a significant boost to Dyche. With Idrissa Gueye a potential departure from Merseyside to represent Senegal, the prospect of losing two of his favoured central midfield three for several games would have been of concern.”
Massive
The difference that Everton see whenever Doucoure is on the pitch compared to when he isn’t is massive for Sean Dyche, and the more often he is available the better.
Despite his age and the fact that he was left to rot on the sidelines by Lampard, he came straight into the team and immediately made a huge impact to the point where he is one of the first names on the teamsheet now for fans and management staff alike.
With Gueye likely to head away with Senegal, we will already be affected and losing Doucoure too would have been a terrible blow considering we’re likely to be in a relegation battle.
A new deal was fantastic news for the club considering the position we’re in and the fact he was out of contract in the summer, but this is the icing on the cake.
We need all the advantages we can get at this stage, and we’re a far better outfit with him on the pitch than without so this can only be good news.
In other Everton news, Dyche drops injury boost as three ruled out for West Ham clash.