Abdoulaye Doucoure backed to agree new Everton contract amid ‘stupid’ claim
Abdoulaye Doucoure has been a player Everton fans will remember for digging them out of the trenches, an all-action midfielder with a fire in his belly.
The Malian is now 32 and out of contract on Merseyside at the end of this season, but reminded the Toffees of his continued importance by netting the last-gasp winner away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday (12 April).
Doucoure is one of several with contracts expiring this summer, as The Friedkin Group, David Moyes and the players themselves have some key decisions to make.
Doucoure ‘gave signal’ to Everton after moment v Nottingham Forest
Doucoure sent the Everton supporters into utter elation when he netted inside the 94th minute at the City Ground at the weekend.
There have seldom been many moments to top it, though nothing is ever beating his intervention on the final day of the 2022-23 season when his strike against Bournemouth at Goodison Park kept the Toffees in the Premier League.
Alongside the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Seamus Coleman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Doucoure is set to leave on a free transfer this summer as things stand.
He celebrated his decisive strike at Forest with a ‘writing’ celebration designed to look like a contract extension signal – confirming after the game he wants to stay.
This was discussed by TV commentator Ian Darke, who believes the right measure to take for Everton would be a new extension given his part in Moyes’ side but acknowledged any potential wage demands.
“He maybe tried to give a signal there with his celebration,” Darke laughed, while exclusively speaking to Goodison News.
“It’s hard to say without watching 90 minutes every week whether Doucoure should get a new contract. I would’ve thought they’d probably want to keep him around unless they’re going to spend very big on new players.
“He’s someone who starts every week so they definitely like him around. He can play a couple of different roles, so I think unless his wage demands are stupid, they could probably do another deal with him of some sort. He’s a solid citizen to have there.”
Moyes looking to finish season strongly before new deals handed out
Moyes will be solely looking at finishing the season well despite Everton having long secured their place in the Premier League to move into Bramley-Moore Dock.
Only three matches of their six remaining in the league are now left at Goodison Park, against Manchester City this Saturday (19 April), then Ipswich Town and Southampton.
| Everton – contracts expiring this summer |
| Abdoulaye Doucoure |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
| Seamus Coleman |
| Ashley Young |
| Idrissa Gueye |
| Michael Keane |
| Asmir Begovic |
| Joao Virginia |
The Toffees will then hold talks with their out-of-contract stars – of which there are eight in the first-team squad – on what’s next.