Abdoulaye Doucoure and David Moyes at Everton.
(Credit: Imago)
Dan Godfrey
Thu 6 March 2025 16:15, UK
Everton have again demonstrated that they are looking to be run with a lot more stability in the future following their latest decision.
An important call emerged on Thursday (6 March) as Abdoulaye Doucoure has not seen his Everton contract automatically triggered for an extension, with the Toffees declining to take any action before the deadline to keep the midfielder on the same terms.
Doucoure is one of several in David Moyes‘ squad out of contract in the summer, but the Toffees have opted against committing to an extension just yet.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been key in recent years (Credit: Imago)
Everton right to turn down Doucoure contract extension
As revealed by Bobble on X (6 March), Everton have for now decided against triggering the one-year extension clause in the Mali midfielder’s deal.
Doucoure has been a vital player in recent survival fights, but as reported by Joe Thomas of the Liverpool Echo (6 March), the decision has been taken out of due care with no contract developments planned throughout the squad until Premier League safety is secured – as explained by Moyes.
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While on paper it may seem that Doucoure’s career at the Toffees is ebbing to an end before a free transfer in the summer, this is far from necessarily the case.
Unlike in previous years where Farhad Moshiri would throw cash at anything, Everton under The Friedkin Group are looking for stability and to be run with a safety net at all times.
It is a productive move in which Moyes and the ownership are taking no chances on potential relegation, despite having moved 15 points clear of the drop zone following a seismic turn of form.
Until matters are mathematically confirmed, Everton do not want to make any financial commitments which would become wholly unsustainable with Championship football at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
While it could backfire on the Toffees and see them lose Doucoure in the summer, the midfielder is now free to talk to other clubs, it does appear that he is very happy on Merseyside and would be fully co-operative over arranging a revised new deal.
Everton buyer Dan Friedkin
Dan Friedkin has made changes since taking over at Everton
Doucoure meets teammates in Abu Dhabi
Doucoure is very much an Everton regular but has missed two of the last three games in blue.
Following his full-time red card against Liverpool – the entire situation from which has become highly publicised – the 32-year-old had to miss the win at Crystal Palace on 15 February.
With a superb impact against Manchester United in the following contest at Goodison Park, claiming a goal and an assist in the eventual 2-2 draw, Doucoure then skipped the visit to Brentford for the birth of his child.
Abdoulaye Doucoure APPS GOALS
Everton 156 20
Doucoure’s Everton career so far
He later flew to the United Arab Emirates where his teammates have been undergoing a warm-weather training camp, and will be back in contention to face Wolves this Saturday (8 March).
Everton now seem to be slowly back on the straight and narrow, being run in a controlled manner and these patient decisions on contracts have to be admired, leaving Moshiri well in the past.
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