Sean Dyche stance emerges as Everton now ready for Abdoulaye Doucoure bid amid financial vulnerability
Everton are braced for a bid from Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq for Abdoulaye Doucoure, according to The Mail on Sunday.
The newspaper reported in its print edition (page 101, 21 January) that Doucoure has been shortlisted as a potential replacement for Jordan Henderson.
The Mail on Sunday added that Sean Dyche does not want to lose Doucoure, but the financial issues at Goodison Park could force his hand.
“Doucoure has scored key goals for Everton in their fight to stay in the Premier League and manager Sean Dyche would be loath to lose him but the club’s financial plight means they are vulnerable to offers,” according to The Mail on Sunday.
Needed
There is no surprise that Al Ettifaq have turned to the Premier League to look for a new midfielder, with the club losing former Liverpool captain Henderson to Ajax this month.
Doucoure would undoubtedly thrive in Saudi Arabia, but it is a transfer that Dyche and Everton should be doing their utmost to block.
From the outside, it seems that the midfielder is happy at Goodison Park, having thrived under Dyche so far this season.
But a closer look at things could perhaps suggest an exit, with so much money clearly ready for the player should he choose to move to Al Ettifaq.
However, in another twist, even with the money, Henderson’s swift exit from the country may put Doucoure off a move there, although admittedly other factors could have been at play.
Ultimately, Everton are in a dangerous position in the Premier League table, and keeping Doucoure is undeniably the best decision in footballing terms, but maybe not in financial terms.
In other Everton news, Alan Stubbs has made a new Toffees prediction live on BBC after what he saw at Goodison Park recently.
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