Abdoulaye Doucouré's latest comments hint at Everton departure

It has been repeated a great deal already, but this summer is going to be a massive one for Everton, with a nearly full squad overhaul expected.

A lot of that will come because the club has 14 players due to be out of contract or return to their parent clubs at the termination of their loans, meaning there will be plenty of open spots on the squad.

One of those out-of-contract players is midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré, who has not been shy about reminding the club of his current situation. His goal-scoring celebration after bagging the winner away to Nottingham Forest was not exactly subtle.

And now recent comments from the Mali international on the Fozcast, a podcast run by Ben Foster, his former Watford teammate, indicate that Everton have yet to reach out to the 31-year-old midfielder and that he doesn't want "to wait for them to give [him] a new contract."

He's been a divisive player during his time, but there's no doubt that he works hard, never stops running, and has proven himself integral to many different managers throughout his time at the club.

He isn't the most technically sound or athletically gifted. Still, he is a solid player and has been vital to many important moments, including scoring Everton's fastest ever Premier League goal and this banger against Bournemouth in 2023 that saved the club from relegation.

There's also this wild stat:

Sure, that may be coincidental, but it does indicate a player who has a flair for the dramatic and possesses the ability to come through when he's called upon, even if he isn't the flashiest or most skilled player on the pitch.

But Doucouré's words and Everton's lack of action so far suggest that maybe the club is ready to move on from the player, who'll turn 33 on January 1.

The club did not pick up the option for the final year of his deal, so if he returns it will be on their terms. But the player may be less inclined to hear about a reduction in wages if other offers come along.