Carlo Ancelotti reveals Abdoulaye Doucoure ‘was not on my transfer list’ before £20m move from Watford… and Everton boss needed convincing before making ‘fantastic signing’
- Carlo Ancelotti admits he did not want to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure last summer
- The 28-year-old midfielder joined the Toffees for £20million from Watford
- Doucoure has started all but one of Everton’s league and cup matches this term
- Ancelotti claimed Everton convinced him to put Doucoure on his transfer list
Carlo Ancelotti admitted he did not want to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure at the start of the transfer window but has now branded the Everton midfielder as a ‘fantastic signing’.
The 28-year-old joined the Toffees for £20million from Watford last summer and has been an ever-present figure in the Everton side challenging for Champions League football this term.
Ancelotti claimed Everton persuaded him to sanction a move for the midfielder but the Italian is now not regretting a move for Doucoure given his current form.
Carlo Ancelotti (second left) did not want to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure (third left) for Everton
Doucoure has been ever-present for the Toffees side currently challenging for the top four
The Everton manager told a press conference ahead of Everton’s match with Southampton: ‘When we started to talk about the transfer window, Doucoure was on the list of the club.
‘He was not on my list, but we talked together and we both agreed to sign him.
‘I think it was, after six months, a really fantastic signing because Doucoure is playing really well.’
Toffees boss Ancelotti revealed Everton convinced him to approve the £20m Doucoure deal
Doucoure has started all but one of Everton’s Premier League matches this season, scoring two goals and laying on three assists. His best performance in a Toffees shirt came during his side’s comeback win over Everton where he scored once and made another goal.
The Frenchman has also started every single one of Everton’s FA Cup ties, with Ancelotti’s men facing Manchester City in the quarter-final stage later this month.
The Toffees boss praised Doucoure not only for his physicality but also his ability to be available and fully fit for nearly all of the season during a busy coronavirus-influenced football schedule.
Doucoure (middle) has two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season
Ancelotti added: ‘Doucoure is really good physically and he’s able to recover really fast, really quick.
‘He doesn’t show problems with his physical condition. He has played a lot of games but he is still really good, fresh, and has no problems at all.’
Doucoure is expected to be involved for Everton once again when the Toffees host Southampton in the Premier League on Monday night.
Victory for Ancelotti’s men would move them level on points with fifth-placed Liverpool and two points behind West Ham in fourth with a game in hand.