Why Sean Dyche must sacrifice £20m ‘best player’ amid ongoing Everton PSR crisis

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Everton’s January has been one consisting of far more focus on the outgoings than any potential signings they might make.

After all, their financial issues are well-documented, and as such the interest has naturally been on how they might dig themselves out of this hole.

A hole, might I add, that only seems to be getting deeper as the Premier League revealed just last week that they were thought to have been in breach of their profit and sustainability rules for a second time this season.

The whole world knows about their issues, and as such everyone sees them as an easy target.

That could be why interest has emerged for some of their top stars, with even Abdoulaye Doucoure now being linked with a Goodison Park exit.

Could Abdoulaye Doucoure leave Everton?

To lose any of Sean Dyche’s starting side would be a hammer blow, but few would be as gut-wrenching as that of the Mali international.

Under the 52-year-old boss, he has swiftly grown into one of Everton’s and the Premier League’s top-performing midfielders, finding the net with immense regularity.

As such, he has caught the eye of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, who are seeking to plug the gap left by Jordan Henderson.

Whilst his exit seems unlikely, with journalist Paddy Boyland admitting he was the club’s ‘best player’ in 2023, the potential windfall gained from the departure of the £20m ace might be too tempting to deny.

Especially if it is in line with some of the previous figures used to tempt stars to the Saudi Pro League.

It could save Everton from their PSR nightmare

Frustratingly enough, the Toffees have been forced to offload their top talents on numerous occasions throughout the years just to stay afloat.

The greatest example is Wayne Rooney, who arguably went on to become England’s greatest-ever footballer; forced out of Goodison Park to pay the bills…

Well, decades on it seems little has changed, and once again Everton has been desperately scampering for funds in an effort to keep themselves alive.

Doucoure’s sale would be catastrophic. Few fans would disagree. But haven’t the club survived bigger setbacks?

Especially if the departure of a 31-year-old was enough to keep the likes of Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite at Goodison Park a little while longer and strengthen their bargaining position with regards to selling them as well.

Although his six goals in the Premier League make him their top scorer, already there has been a suggestion that his heir might already be present at the academy.

Given last season saw Anthony Gordon depart in January with no replacement and Everton still survived, there is an argument to be made that the same could occur.

And whilst relegation might be made a far greater possibility, with the weakness of the likes of Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United, there is arguably no greater time to cash in and take such a risk in the short-term to hopefully benefit the long-term future of the club.