Everton Set to Lose £130,000-per-week Star for Free This Summer – Report | OneFootball

Abdoulaye Doucoure Set to Depart Everton as Club Eyes Charly Alcaraz Replacement

Everton’s midfield stalwart Abdoulaye Doucoure looks set to leave Goodison Park at the end of the season, with no contract extension currently on the table. As reported by TEAMtalk, the club is not in negotiations to extend the 32-year-old’s deal, meaning his time on Merseyside is likely to come to an end this summer.

Doucoure has been a vital part of Everton’s squad in recent years, playing a crucial role in securing Premier League survival, most notably scoring the decisive goal against Bournemouth in 2023. However, with his contract set to expire in June and Everton’s hierarchy looking to lower both the squad’s age profile and wage structure, his departure seems inevitable.

Currently the club’s highest earner at £130,000 per week, Doucoure’s salary has been identified as one of the key factors behind the decision not to renew his deal. According to TEAMtalk sources, the Toffees are unwilling to trigger a one-year extension on his current terms or renegotiate at a lower wage.

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Alcaraz Lined Up as Doucoure’s Successor

With Doucoure’s departure all but confirmed, Everton appear to have already identified his successor in Charly Alcaraz. The Argentine midfielder, who joined the club on loan from Flamengo in January, has impressed in his appearances so far.

Alcaraz, 22, has played in various midfield roles and was deployed alongside Doucoure in a wider position during Everton’s recent 1-1 draw with West Ham. However, his natural role is through the middle, where he is expected to operate moving forward.

TEAMtalk sources state that Everton view Alcaraz as a “ready-made replacement” for Doucoure. The club has an obligation to sign him permanently for €20m (£16.6m, $20.8m) if he starts eight games this season. Having already made six Premier League appearances, including three starts, it is highly likely that the deal will be triggered.

Middle East and European Clubs Showing Interest in Doucoure

With Everton moving on, Doucoure will not be short of suitors. According to TEAMtalk, clubs from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed a strong interest in acquiring his services. Al-Ettifaq, Al-Qadsiah, NEOM FC, and Shabab Al-Ahli are all reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Beyond the Middle East, Doucoure also has options in Turkey and Germany, making his next destination an intriguing prospect. Whether another Premier League club will enter the fray remains to be seen, though given his experience and quality, it wouldn’t be surprising if an English club takes an interest in him.

What This Means for Everton’s Midfield Rebuild

Doucoure’s departure signifies the beginning of a major squad overhaul under Everton’s new ownership, the Friedkin Group. Keen to reshape the squad with a younger and financially sustainable model, the club is making tough decisions to secure its long-term future.

While Doucoure has been a fan favourite and a key performer, the club’s faith in Alcaraz suggests they believe the transition can be smooth. With further changes expected in the summer transfer window, Everton fans will be eager to see what direction the club takes in terms of recruitment and squad development.

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For Everton fans, this report will be met with frustration and disappointment. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been one of the club’s most consistent performers in recent years, and to see him leave without much of a fight will be a bitter pill to swallow. His leadership, dynamism, and ability to pop up with crucial goals have been invaluable, particularly in high-pressure situations like the 2023 relegation battle.

While financial constraints are understandable, allowing a player of Doucoure’s calibre to walk away for free raises serious questions about the club’s decision-making. Is cutting costs the main priority, or is there a genuine belief that Charly Alcaraz can step up and fill the void immediately?

Alcaraz has shown promise, but with just a handful of Premier League appearances, expecting him to replicate Doucoure’s impact straight away is a big gamble. At 22, he still has plenty to prove, and if Everton find themselves in another scrap for survival, they may regret not keeping hold of their experienced midfield enforcer for another season.

Furthermore, the lack of a clear contingency plan beyond Alcaraz is concerning. Everton’s midfield options are already stretched, and unless further reinforcements arrive in the summer, the team could find itself short on depth and experience.

David Moyes has a huge task ahead of him in the transfer window. While the decision to part ways with Doucoure may align with the club’s long-term strategy, the short-term consequences could be severe. Everton fans have every right to question whether this is the right call, especially given how crucial Doucoure has been to their survival in recent years.