Everton response readied for January transfer window threat on Abdoulaye Doucoure at Goodison Park
Everton will resist attempts to sign Abdoulaye Doucouré this month as they are “determined” to keep him at Goodison Park, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The outlet reported via their website on 20 January that the Toffees would be “reluctant” to even consider interest in the Malian international, with Al-Ettifaq reportedly looking at him to replace former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson after the England man’s exit to Ajax.
Fabrizio Romano reported via X earlier the same day that the Saudi Pro League side had already made an approach to Goodison Park.
But after Doucouré’s “spectacular resurgence” in the past year under Sean Dyche Everton aren’t expected to readily entertain any “serious interest” late in the January transfer window.
Indispensable
There’s a decent argument to say that the 31-year-old Doucouré is the player that the Toffees can least afford to lose considering the importance he has to the side.
Having come close to leaving the club after being frozen out by Frank Lampard the attacking midfielder has become the most reliable source of goals since the arrival of Dyche.
The financial concerns off the pitch make it difficult for the club to 100% rule out anyone leaving if the price is right, but amid extensive interest in the likes of Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite it is unlikely that a club would offer enough to make an exit for their veteran teammate worthwhile at Goodison Park.
Fans won’t want to see any of the star men leave but a lot seemingly will depend on the outcome of the appeal against the first points deduction (and the knock-on effect on the second referral) as well as the takeover picture.
With nothing in terms of a transfer budget to strengthen this month the very least that the manager will hope for is to avoid his side being weakened.
A Doucouré departure would leave a gaping hole with his own contributions missing, as well as the fact there is no obvious replacement behind the striker.
At his age his transfer value surely pales in comparison to what he offers Everton on the pitch, so a sale would suggest a desperate situation behind the scenes.
In other Everton news, Richard Keys was left outraged by “scary” developments he saw at Goodison Park.
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