Everton trigger option to extend Doucouré deal by a year

If he doesn't want to go, it means he can now just concentrate his thoughts on the final game.

Granted there's a lot to play out with others and a fair bit of fat to trim but it's certainly something that clearly needs to be considered with all contract extensions.

But jeez he's a terrible footballer. Hard to think of it as good news that he'll be wearing the shirt for another season.

If we survive, maybe. But, if we are relegated, that £100k a week for a 30-something inconsistent performer is a hell of an expense. I hope the club wait until next Sunday night before making any contractual agreements.

Only at Everton!

That's £20M less we'd have to spend on fullbacks, right wingers and strikers. We are under investigation, we won't be spending £100M+ this summer — no matter what we all want from Santa.

If someone comes in for him, it's £10-£12M less to find for that upgrade. If we end up in the Championship, he could be very useful in getting us up over even more games than we have in a season now. If we stay up, he's a better option off the bench or in the 11 than Davies.

I agree. And I'd add that when we get rid of one player and buy another, you never know how or whether that new player will fit in (I give you Vinagre, Kean the forward, etc etc). At least we know what Doucouré gives us.

We're going to have a job replacing the players who've gone and who are going this summer, if we can replace them!

It's an unfortunate result of our Board's "leadership" over the last two and a half decades.

This also likely points to the 451 system to be used next season and also that an aerially strong striker as a direct back up/ competition to DCL will definitely be bought.

Exactly Shane. If we go down there will be a free transfer or loan signing somewhere that could do a job in the championship on less than half the money.

Obviously, I've not taken into account how many players we have or need for what positions and use these figures only as an example, but perhaps we need to be a little more creative in our transfer/squad thinking more as an improvement rather than the necessary reaction to any P&S impositions.

Bournemouth are a real mixed bag. They went toe-to-toe with Arsenal and Spurs, can score goals, have plenty of pace on the counter but a pourous defence.
I have worried for months about facing them in such circumstances. At least it's in our hands.
I expect that their players will be a little worried. Sending a team down in front of 40,000 fans can have unknown consequences.
We have to make it a cauldron and hope that someone pops-in a goal to calm the nerves. The players have to give everything or we are all toast.

Patterson will be first choice if he can stay fit. Coleman will be 35 next season and if he too can stay fit , and 100% recover from his operation, will be an adequate back up. How much wages do we offer a back up right back? Also , instead do we scout and bring in another player as competition for right back who could be of a longer term benefit.

It’s almost sacrilege to consider not renewing Seamus’s contract, but sometimes hard decisions have to be taken for the good of the club.

All thing’s considered I was hugely impressed how he performed this season. His presence and commitment to the cause as a well used back up next season makes some sense. Also, what makes sense is a reduction in wage from £3.64m pa for this one year extension which is commensurate with an increased back up role. The club has to live in the real world and be tougher financially all round.

Now a well-run club like Brighton would also look at this as the opportunity to bring in a couple of high potential young players from low cost markets (South America, Eastern Europe etc) - with a view to developing them on loan or from the bench over the next 12 months.

The players are out there - with about half a dozen or more 18 to 22 year olds routinely touted for moves to Europe from South America. Not all of these will end up being as good as MacAllister etc and some will turn out rubbish - but with our finances where they are, this is the only way we'll materially improve the playing squad.

Spending £35m on Onana might come good in time but it's too big an outlay on potential. I suspect we'll be looking to sell him for a bit of a quick profit this summer. We shouldn't really be spending more than about £5m to £20m on any players, especially just "potential". After all this is what Forest and Saints each paid for the very highly rated Danilo and Alcaraz in January, both of whom are straight into the first team and performing strongly).

Probably outweighed by wanting to stay in the Premier League and professional pride, but thought I'd find the negative for completeness. :-)

Sorry, but my #27 was not in actual response to yours but just a thought on budgeting and in the event Everton face some sort of transfer embargo or financial oversight to see that we do actually reduce spending to come back under the P&S debt levels.

Once they look at the players we've got, the stupid contracts they are on and the extortionate wages and the players don't perform to the wages they get, they'll either feel sorry for us or piss themselves laughing at the club's stupidity. 🤷

I concur. As things stand, we still have 15 million pounds of wages to pay next season when the loans for Gbamin, Dele and Gomes end. Duke adds another 6 million. Imagine if we are relegated and have that liability of 21 million in wages just for those four. Coventry City's annual wage bill is 7 million. So we'd be paying four times that with similar income plus 40 million of "parachute payments." Couldn't we have at least waited until after Sunday to see if we survive?

Plus, Gomes despite his loan spell in France is apparently too expensive for Lille to secure permanently. Any takers for Dele? I doubt it. Likewise, Gbamin's agent is trying to find a club in Russia as the Turkish club cannot afford him but do we really see that happening? Even if it did, can we/he enter into financial discussions with Russia under sanctions? Again, seems doubtful.

Beyond the financials, the guy is soon to be 31 and has been an inconsistent performer.

In my opinion though we need to be moving on from this type of player, high wage, underperformed consistantly and has very little technical ability.

However, saying all that if he helps to keep us up this Sunday he has probably deserved a year extension. But I can't see a successful midfield with him in it next season.

Either way, I guess the trigger means we can sell him for something if we get an offer but we've essentially just committed to paying him another £6m for one single year - when we don't even know if we'll be in the premiership next season (probably a relegation clause but still).

Timing is very very odd indeed and just doesn't tie to common sense - not the first time when it comes to Everton.

That resumes my thoughts: very useful player when played in his position.