Isaac Price looks like a former Everton player who could have achieved great things with the Toffees, and he knew that himself.
There have been many regrets at Everton in recent years, with Moise Kean, Ademola Lookman, and now Price being the new name emerging on the scene.
After being released by the Toffees in 2023, the midfielder has now gone on to be one of the stars in the Championship.
The regret is deepening as fans think Everton fumbled Price as the 21-year-old is now shining for club and country.
It was the Northern Ireland international who wanted to leave in the end, but the Blues should have seen his promise coming.
Everton coach Paul Tait said Isaac Price thought he deserved first-team place
With his fortunes at West Brom now at an all-time high, Price looks to only be getting better.
Ryan Mason believes Price will continue to improve, as the midfielder will be on a quest to prove his doubters on Merseyside wrong.
He’s certainly excelling, but Everton under-21 coach Paul Tait saw the youngster’s potential from a mile off.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2022, Tait said: “Isaac is making more passes than he’s ever made, having more touches, making more forward runs into the box, covering more distance and doing it quicker.
“All his metrics have gone through the roof. It’s (due to) hard work and a bit of maturity. He’s at the age now where he’s starting to turn into a young man,” he added.
“Isaac’s been with the first team and is a really confident lad with huge belief in his ability. He’ll think he should be playing with the first team every week.
“You need that belief, especially when you’re playing in the middle of the pitch and you have to take the ball in those positions.”
Frank Lampard was the manager during the 21-year-old’s progression, and Lampard was a big fan of Price.
But ultimately, the former Blues manager’s sacking also led the midfielder to depart, and he went on to show his quality at Standard Liege.
| Games played | 37 |
| Goal involvements | 3 (1G+2A) |
| Chances created | 25 |
| Touches per 90 | 64.7 |
| Tackles won % | 74% |
To make matters worse, the midfielder could have been the ideal figure in a David Moyes team, after a past success story.
- READ MORE: What David Moyes said after Aston Villa defeat in January shows just how far Everton have come
Isaac Price could have been David Moyes’ next Marouane Fellaini at Everton
Moyes could be the most disappointed from this deal in 2023, as Price has the perfect build of Marouane Fellaini.
Fellaini was obviously a big threat under the Scotsman, occupying the attacking midfield role with his height, and Price has shown he’s a danger in the box through his late runs into the box and his six-foot-two frame.
This could have been a match made in heaven, but Price said leaving Everton was the correct decision.
If Moyes had joined earlier, it could have been a different story, but now his quality will be shown elsewhere.
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