Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has emerged as a top target for Saudi club Al Ettifaq.
The multi-millionaire club are looking to sign a new midfielder after Jordan Henderson left the club to join Ajax this month. They have approached Everton to ask about the 31-year-old midfielder.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Saudi club has approached the player’s camp. Doucoure is a “key player” for Everton, so it won’t be easy to lure him away Goodison Park, especially at a time when the Toffees need the entire squad to contribute for survival.
“Al Ettifaq approach Everton to ask for Abdoulaye Doucouré as one of their top targets to replace Henderson. Understand Saudi club also approached player’s camp. Everton still consider Doucouré as key player — not easy but Al Ettifaq want new midfielder,” wrote Romano on X.
Should Everton sell him?
Doucoure has emerged as a midfield lynchpin for Sean Dyche and it is really hard to see Everton selling him in the January transfer window.
Having said that, it is also a perfect opportunity to cash in on the player who has a contract until 2025.
If Everton can get a decent transfer fee for Doucoure, they should take it, considering the fact, the club are reeling with financial difficulties. They have been already punished once, and ten points were taken off for breaking FFP rules.
They could also face another major punishment after breaching the PSR rules as well. In such a scenario, the Toffees can look to offload some of the players, especially Doucoure who is on £130k-per-week wages at the club.
Doucoure’s teammate, Amadou Onana, is also attracting interest from Newcastle United, but Everton are expected to demand a fee of over £50m. Given his age, Everton cannot expect any club to pay that amount of figure for Doucoure, but they can still expect a handsome fee for the midfielder from the Saudi club.
