Doucouré hoping to earn new deal with Everton

16/07/2022 32comments  |  Jump to last

Abdoulaye Doucouré says that he would be very keen to extend his time at Everton beyond the expiry of his current deal next summer but he is not sure whether Everton would be willing to offer him new terms.

The club has an option to extend his contract by another year that would keep him at Goodison Park until the summer of 2024 and the newly-minted Mali international is hopeful that he can commit more of his future to the Toffees.

A £20m acquisition from Watford in the summer of 2020, Doucouré has been an important member of Everton's squad and been virtually ever-present when fit and with the club's transfer budget restricting Frank Lampard's ability to significantly bolster the midfield, he will be relied upon again in the coming campaign.

"I spoke to the club. They know my position,” Doucouré was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. I want to stay here for much longer.

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"With one year left, you want to know what is going on. But at the moment everything is a bit calm. Let's see before the end of the transfer window how it can change. Maybe the club have time to reflect on me and see how they want to plan with me in the future.

"I enjoy being here a lot. I want to commit to the club for the future. For three or four years more. I enjoy the atmosphere and have more to give to the club. Let's see if the club have the same reflections as me and we can work together."

 

Reader Comments (32)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 16/07/2022 at
We simply can't allow another player to leave on a free.
David Connor
2 Posted 16/07/2022 at
He needs to improve massively in my eyes to warrant another contract. Yet another player who flatters to deceive, unfortunately. We have far too many of them.

If I was Lampard, I would be telling him he has to improve his performances before things are discussed on his future Everton career. If he doesn't improve, ship him out with the rest of the crap we have.

Eddie Dunn
3 Posted 16/07/2022 at
Strange that he is talking about this now. For me, the lad is absolutely dreadful at football. People were moaning about the possibility of Winks joining us, but Winks can actually play the game.
Justin Doone
4 Posted 16/07/2022 at
He's an athletic footballer but not a top-level footballer. I certainly wouldn't be looking to improve his salary. As a squad player, he may be worth another few years but I'd be happy to sell if possible.
Jim Bennings
5 Posted 17/07/2022 at
He probably will get another year extension but at 29 it's a risk to put too much faith in longer.

He's missed quite a few games in the two seasons he's been here and I'm still not completely sold on what he's meant to be or what we want him to do.

Doucouré is athletic but there are too many games when opponents run harder than him, and when you factor in his passing is poor mostly, it's difficult to really know what we have with him.

At the very least I thought he'd be similar to Marouane Fellaini in his first year, struggling to nail down the centre of midfield but pushed up to play behind the striker and score 8 or 9 goals but that's never looked like happening.

I dare say we can't afford to lose anymore players now, unless they are Gbamin, Gomes etc.

But you'd feel if we had signed more players (one in Doucouré's mould) and cash would have been flowing, they'd have listened to sensibe offers for Doucouré.

Winston Williamson
6 Posted 17/07/2022 at
The guy cannot pass accurately to teammates within 2 meters! He runs a bit and has a shot every three games. For a box-to-box midfielder, he's dreadful.

Let his contract expire. Unless someone is daft enough to buy him beforehand.

Unfortunately, with a large group of our current squad we are going to see them leave at the end of their contracts. With no transfer fees.

It's a result of paying very ordinary players Top-6 wages and clubs tightening their wage budgets following income reductions due to Covid.

Seems like Everton, like with all things, are behind the curve on trends within the industry.

Jim Bennings
7 Posted 17/07/2022 at
It probably won't go down too well but Rafa Benitez has been the only one who has got something from Doucouré which I have seen at Watford.

In Benitez's early games, Doucouré was let off the leash more with some powerful running displays.

Keith Gleave
8 Posted 17/07/2022 at
We seem to take apparently good players from other teams and make them worse. We bring through a small amount of our youth and they seem to stagnate.

To my mind, they are asked to play out of position, or if in position, others aren't and the team doesn't gel. No section is doing what they should, the midfield covering for defence, so little forward momentum. The forwards dropping too deep, same as wide players, hence the hoof to Calvert-Lewin.

I'm aware not much has changed on the playing staff but Ancelotti got better out of them. My fear is, if we cannot get some quality in, then Lampard is a fish out of water and a fresh managerial search will ensue around December, with us in Bottom 3.

Justin Doone
9 Posted 17/07/2022 at
Doucoure wasn't that good at Watford but we were desperate for a midfielder with a good engine.

For me, he and Allan were both short-term solutions. They are not good enough to play together and yet remain our best 2 midfielders.

Remember Match of the Day highlights and YouTube clips can make players appear better than they really are.

It's no surprise he had better games playing for Carlo and Rafa as they are both far better and more experienced managers.

We can only hope our next few purchases are top-quality midfielders.

Jim Bennings
10 Posted 17/07/2022 at
Justin,

Unfortunately I agree.

As much as I've seen a few good games from Doucouré where I've thought "Okay, this fella is not bad."

There's too many games where he's too sluggish, too ponderous and his passing is horrible.

29 isn't old for a midfield player but the best sides have replacements ready to bring in on the conveyor belt.

We should now be searching for the next midfielder with an engine and more attributes than Doucouré, someone 4 or 5 years younger.

Drew O’Neall
11 Posted 17/07/2022 at
Doucouré was decent when he joined and for me he wasn’t the same after he had his injury lay-off.

Assuming he reaches the standards he set initially, I think he’s worth a place in our midfield as someone who can cover the ground, win the ball back and occasionally do something in the opponent’s box.

You have to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone forced to play alongside Gomes!

Andy Crooks
12 Posted 17/07/2022 at
Like many, his reputation was hugely enhanced when he was out injured.
Bill Gienapp
13 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Jim (7) - I agree, Doucoure actually got off to a really nice start last year, and seemed to be one of the few who benefitted from playing under Benitez.

His overall season is a bit difficult to assess, as he suffered a pair of semi-serious injuries, and I think he rushed back early from both (particularly the foot fracture), to his own detriment.

I'm definitely not writing him off, though it's probably not realistic to look beyond extending him one more season.

Andy Meighan
14 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Bit of an enigma, Doucouré. When played in a 3, he seems to benefit more; in a 2, he looks lost. As Jim said, his best displays were under miserable arse Benitez.

If he could thread more passes like the one for Gray against Burnley last season, we'd have a player on our hands. Unfortunately his passing is atrocious at times.

Laurie Hartley
15 Posted 18/07/2022 at
We need a creative midfielder to play with him – Allan would benefit from that as well.

He has the right attitude – I would give him the extra year.

Ciarán McGlone
16 Posted 18/07/2022 at
An average central midfield equals an average team.. him and Allan are decidedly average.
Bernie Quinn
17 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Ciaran at16 - not impressed by your assessment mate.
Robert Tressell
18 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Doucoure is a fairly reasonable midfield all-rounder. I actually think his most intelligent performances were under Ancelotti where it surprised me how disciplined he could be in holding the midfield together.

Otherwise his energy is good, his passing is not and he's not going to score more than 3 or 4 a season.

This sort of quality could have been bought at much lower cost and younger too - so we wouldn't be facing a zero return now on a considerable outlay.

That said, given Allan, Davies and Doucoure are all out of contract June 2023, I can see the sense in extending his contract. Otherwise we have to completely rebuild the midfield from new players which is disruptive and expensive.

Kevin Molloy
19 Posted 18/07/2022 at
I'd definitely be looking to replace Doucoure and Allan. Neither were good last season, both will be worse this season. We need new replacements in, fast.
Tony Everan
20 Posted 18/07/2022 at
The club have an option to extend Doucouré's contract anyway to June 2024. So we don't have to make an immediate decision, I want to see how he gets on in an improved midfield in a more stable team.

At the moment, for midfield squad depth, I prefer Doucouré to Gomes, Davies and Gbamin. The latter two may prove otherwise after their lengthy injuries, I hope so, but I wouldn't bet my house on it.

For that reason, he'd be one of the players we should keep and be focussed on moving on others if possible. Pathways need to be created for Warrington and maybe Price over the next two seasons. That means culling players who have had their chance and not quite taken it.

Ciarán McGlone
21 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Bernie...

How can I make up for your unimpressed demeanour?

Danny O’Neill
22 Posted 18/07/2022 at
I commented earlier on another post about Allan and I've been a fan. I think the problem is he gets judged as a defensive holding midfielder when he isn't. And we don't have one so whoever we play he and our midfield get exposed.

We got him late in his career unfortunately and now he is 2 years on from that point. He is a very good player and leader.

Doucoure needs to find consistency and, in my opinion, an identify as a player. Too often he seems to just be running around. Is that down to him? The coaching? The tactics? I don't know, but he is a very useful player to have.

I still don't know where that goal against Burnley came from. It seemed impossible he would get a shot in, let alone nearly burst the roof of the net.

More that please and your doubters will warm to you. We see the effort and energy. Just add more end product and finesse to your game.

We need a sweeper. Now definitions and positioning of sweeper vary depending on formation and tactics. But if I was Frank Lampard's advisor for a day, that's what I'd be saying. Not that he'd take my advice!!

Protection for the defence and stop the midfielders being exposed. Mind the gap as I've been saying for about 2 years or so now.

Soren Moyer
23 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Can we get either Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkeusen) or Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) please? Great young midfielders with plenty of goals in them!!! Everton do the right thing for once.

Also reports saying that Billy Gilmour and Harvey Vale have left the Chelsea first-team group as both were crap, hence everton is interested in the former!

Robert Tressell
24 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Soren. The answer is no. We absolutely cannot get either of Wirtz or Szoboszlai.
Dale Self
25 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Ha! Like watching a kid get the back of his hand smacked with a ruler. No Soren, No! Just kidding Soren, you probably know those markets better than me.
Soren Moyer
26 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Dale and Robert OUT! Lol.
Robert Tressell
27 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Sorry Soren. I was a bit blunt there!
Dean Williams
28 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Feel like we are treading water at the moment. Sub standard players and manager. I've aged so much under moshiri.
Bernie Quinn
29 Posted 18/07/2022 at
Ciaran at 21,

It is just a case of you giving your opinion and in return I have given my opinion. We just see things differently, that's all.

Bill Griffiths
30 Posted 19/07/2022 at
Personally I'd be looking to replace him. To my eyes he either has a really good came or a totally crap game nowhere in between.
I think we need better.
Clive Rogers
31 Posted 19/07/2022 at
Bill, 30, I agree. The last two seasons he has started well, then picked up an injury and struggled for the rest of the season with inconsistent performances. You certainly can’t rely on him.
Paul Birmingham
32 Posted 21/07/2022 at
Character, individual, a collective Team character, and for me, that’s the essence of a good team, a team that doesn’t accept defeat.

The results last season told a story the last three months was almost Lazarus, like.

Get the mentality right and it’s 11 v 11.

No more inferiority complex issues, as this seems in many games last season and before an issue.

Let the opposition know your in the game to win the game, individual duels, etc.. Win them, the Team has a chance..

Hope eternal, but hope demands effort, belief and dedication..

Everton FC, collectively start to deliver..

Face the music and turn the corner, from mediocrity, to reliability.

Hope eternal.


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