Abdoulaye Doucoure says he'll be 'happy' to leave Everton in the summer

Abdoulaye Doucoure has said he'll be 'happy' to leave Everton if he's not offered a new contract by the end of the season.

Doucoure has spent five years at Goodison Park but his Everton contract is set to expire; the former Mali international revealed he's yet to receive an offer and is prepared to leave the club.

"There's not been any talks so far," said Doucoure on Ben Foster's Fozcast. "I don't wait for them to give me a contract or not, I have some proposals on the table and I think in next three weeks I will have to take my decision."

"It's the first time in my career I could become a free agent. Everton is massive for me but maybe the chapter is finished and I have to accept that, but I will be happy if I leave the club."

Doucoure is thought to be the club's highest earner, and now 32 years of age, the club may be hesitant to offer a longer-term deal, but Doucoure feels he has plenty left to give at the top level, and that rather than accepting a salary reduction, he deserves an increase in his wages.

"I heard on X or Instagram, Everton fans they were saying we'd love Doucoure to stay but you have to lower his wages and I'm amazed. Why are they talking about my salary? I deserve to have my salary right now and I won't reduce my salary to stay at the club. I'm playing every season, scoring important goals, I should have an increase.

"I see a lot of things about my salary and I think 'guys, I see Mo Salah or Van Dijk have a pay rise because they're playing good. Okay, I'm not at that level, Everton is not at the level of Liverpool, but I'm playing every game for five years. There were a couple of players playing for Everton who were on an even higher salary than me and they weren't playing as much and no one spoke about the salary.

"I'm only 32 years old and I think I have another three, four years easily in the Premier League."

Doucoure raised a few eyebrows with his celebration after his late winner against Nottingham Forest in April, suggesting the club should get in touch regarding a new contract, but the midfielder insists it was just a bit of fun.

"It was a joke between us before the game," said Doucoure. "Obviously all the players want me to stay, there were a few people saying 'Everton didn't offer you something? Do the celebration for them'."

Liam Williams

• Everton F.C.
• • 
  •