Everton

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We asked for your views on whether you think Everton should keep midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure beyond the end of this season, with his contract set to expire.

Here are the views of some supporters who feel his time at the club should come to an end in the summer:

Keith: Doucoure has been an integral part of our "struggling" seasons and thanks to some incredibly valuable goals from him, we staved off relegation on several occasions. However, as Everton seek to start a new chapter, I think it's time for him and quite a number of players who are out of contract to move on. So to all of those players: "Thank you for all you've done and good luck for the future."

Shaun: He's scored a few important goals but he gives the ball away far too often and doesn't really create anything, which for the position he plays is nowhere near good enough. Understand he's on stupid wages too so if he wants a new contract to be a back-up player once we have more quality then he needs to drop his wage demands by about three-quarters of his current contract, otherwise good luck to him wherever he goes next.

Kieran: Absolutely no chance, for the past three seasons he has been largely anonymous. He is the epitome of everything that has been wrong with the club over the past few years in that he has consistently underperformed and yet is reportedly our highest-paid player. We are hopefully moving away from the previous model of signing players of Doucoure's ilk who come and are far too comfortable. Everton need young, hungry players who are ready to give everything for the badge, which, in my opinion, Doucoure has not done. Thanks for your service Abdoulaye, but hopefully his Everton career is over.

Terry: As much as I appreciate everything he's done for the club and he gives 100% every game, I think it's best if he moves on, I think Ndiaye is perfect for that position or even Alcaraz if he stays, maybe keep him as strictly a squad player on reduced wages might work, it seems heartless because he's a really likeable fella. But if we are to improve we have got to make difficult decisions.

Nick: Doucs scored the most important goal in Everton's recent history to restore our Premier League status and that should not be forgotten. However, sentiment doesn't get you very far in the modern game and he is prone to more mistakes than other players. He has already secured his place in Goodison folklore and will always be welcome at the club but he's run his course. I'll always be grateful to him!

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton paid £9.1m in fees to agents for transfers made between 2 February 2024 and 3 February 2025 - the third lowest total of any Premier League club during that period.

Only Ipswich (£6.2m) and Southampton (£8.9m) spent lower in payments and transactions involving clubs and football agents registered with the Football Association.

The Toffees spent around £40m on the permanent signings of Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O'Brien and Tim Iroegbunam last summer, while they also brought in Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala and Armando Broja on loan, adding Carlos Alcaraz until the end of the season in January.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Everton have been hamstrung by strict spending constraints and are the only Premier League side during that period with a positive net spend, of £80m.

David Moyes' side are currently 13th in the table and secured a late 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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After scoring the winning goal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal celebration suggested that he has unfinished business at Everton.

The midfielder's post-match interview confirmed this, telling BBC Match of the Day: "It is maybe my last moments at the club and at the moment it is very quiet on the club side.

"I love this club. Since the moment I signed, always I want to stay. My contract is running out so let's see what happens in the next couple of weeks but I love this club."

What do you think, Everton fans? Would you like to see him stay at the club beyond the end of the season, or would you allow him to leave?

Tell us here

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We asked for your views on Everton's win at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Al: Slow in thought, play, process, everything. The worst Forest performance I've seen this season. No complaints about the result, Everton did a job on us and actually looked like they were hungrier than us.

Andy: Forest looked like a team of strangers. It must have been a record the amount of second balls we didn't even challenge for. Nuno needs to tell them that they're not on the beach yet. Poor.

Jacob: Forest looked like the long season has been catching up with them. Elanga, Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi were not at their best and an uncharacteristic mistake from Murillo for the goal. They're going to have to dig deep for the rest of the season to keep their coveted league position.

Everton fans

Paul: Great result and well deserved, Moyes really has put the belief back in the club. Watching that game, you'd think it was Everton who were third not Forest. We need to add more quality in the final third, if we do that we can really push on next season.

Dan: Thoroughly deserved and a really comfortable afternoon of football. Everton never let Forest get going, though I thought they were poor and fear for their Champions League participation after that performance. I will be interested to see what happens to Everton under Moyes next season.

Kobe: Amazing game from Everton. In the away end for my first ever game - amazing sound and atmosphere from us and we deserved to win. What an end! This is why we love this game and this club.

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Everton defender James Tarkowski spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside after Saturday's victory against Nottingham Forest: "For me, Forest have been the standout team this season, they have had some big wins here [at the City Ground], but I thought we dominated all game. I know they like to bank in and wait for a counter attack but we never allowed that to happen. We never really felt in danger.

"We're looking to progress and get better and we have done that in the last two or three months, but that has to continue. The manager is ambitious and knows where he wants to take this club.

"We have missed a few players in the last few months, but you look at the bench today and there is some great quality. The fact that Seamus [Coleman] is mental! The competition for places is so important and now we've got that."

Everton are the latest club to join the race to sign 22-year-old striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton

• Arsenal 1-1 Brentford

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David Moyes spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Everton's victory against Nottingham Forest: "I have got to say it was a great goal but thoroughly deserved. It certainly merited a win and I though we played very well, when you come to a team sitting third in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup. I think if anyone was going to score, it was us."

"I have had a lot of games and sometimes football can go that way or you. I am getting a brilliant response from the supporters and the players but I am also calm enough to know it could change. Today we have put on a good show and I am proud of how the players are performing. We are trying to make small steps every week.

"If we keep this form up, it will be fantastic as we can give ourselves some form coming into the new stadium. We want to attract the best players to this club and I would love to have a season like Nottingham Forest are having this season, next season here."

On Abdoulaye Doucoure: "He has done great since I have come back. His work rate is very good for us and we are really enjoying him."

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Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Saturday's victory against Nottingham Forest: "I think we can't have better than that, when you play a football game, to score a last-minute goal. It was a terrific moment for the team."

On his goal celebration, Doucore added: "I can't talk too much about that but it is maybe my last moments at the club and at the moment it is very quiet on the club side. I love this club.

"I love this club. Since the moment I signed, always I want to stay. My contract is running out so let's see what happens in the next couple of weeks but I love this club."

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Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal (93:03) was Everton's latest winning goal away from home in the Premier League on record (since 2006-07).

Were you at the City Ground or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

Everton fans, what did you make of their display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

This is a tough one to call. Nottingham Forest are looking to get back to winning ways after losing to Aston Villa last week, but Everton are so awkward under David Moyes.

The Toffees have drawn six of their past eight games so that is the obvious call here, but I want to back Forest - if you cut me in half, I am red and white.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30)

• Brighton v Leicester City

• Nottingham Forest v Everton

• Southampton v Aston Villa

• Arsenal v Brentford (17:30)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.

You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.

With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.

It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.

One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.

So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.

I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.

But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.

I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.

It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?

Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.

I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.

But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

David Moyes cut an incredibly calm figure meeting me inside Finch Farm this week. He had just come in from training and was sipping a brew before explaining how he was not as composed in the first few days of his return to Everton.

The manager knows the achievements from his first tenure in charge are on the line. They include consistent top-half Premier League finishes, with fourth place in 2004-05, and runners-up in the FA Cup in 2009. He admitted having some sleepless nights worrying that relegation during his second stint would tarnish his record.

But given the Toffees have had to brave three relegation battles in a row, Moyes has managed to ensure Goodison Park's final season goes out having all but mathematically secured safety with seven games left.

However, that is only the beginning.

Under new owners the Friedkin Group, the Blues need a radical overhaul and Moyes is ready for it. He knows they cannot repeat past mistakes by overspending and buying players that do not work.

Moyes' plan to next focus on the academy to become a successful production line and with an ambition to be fighting for the European places next season, it looks like the manager will be going without a full night's sleep for some time yet.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Everton manager David Moyes says the club are "starting to plan" for the summer but will look more closely at the futures of players whose contracts are expiring soon when they are mathematically safe from relegation.

Moyes also talks about centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has often been linked with moves elsewhere, but is a player that the Everton boss "does not want to lose".

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David Moyes has had a dramatic impact on Everton's form since returning for his second spell as manager, lifting the Toffees away from the Premier League relegation zone.

An exciting summer awaits off the pitch as the club prepares to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Asked if there will be significant changes on the field, Moyes told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There will be quite a few priorities because we want to rebuild in some ways.

"The team in its current form would be doing as well as a lot of the teams so great credit to the players playing at the moment but we also have an opportunity to make some changes and try to add some different things to the squad.

"We are still assessing, we have some ideas on what we probably need to do - whether that is a better player in a position or another player in a position, that will be dictated by which players are staying and which players are going.

"It is a good thing that we have a busy summer but the hard thing is to get it all done and ready as quick as you would like.

"Anybody with any wisdom would say you can't get things done in one transfer window, at the moment the way the team is playing is well enough but we need to add some more quality and a bit more style and finesse in different players. Then see if we can keep winning and getting better."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Winger Jesper Lindstrom has had a hernia operation "that will rule him out now for most of this season".

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, is "out on the grass and training well" but it will be at least another three weeks before they can look at a return to full training or matchday involvement.

• Vitaly Mykolenko and Dwight McNeil have been in full training this week but are not expected to be available to start.

• On opponents Nottingham Forest: "Playing top teams at this time of the season is always difficult as they are fighting for points. They're having a great season and we are going to have to play well."

• He said their form "over the last couple of months has been as good as most teams" in the league but to finish as strong as possible they have "got to turn draws into wins".

• On whether there has been any progress in player contracts and summer planning: "We've started to look forward and hopefully in a week or two we can start looking at player contracts and what we are going to do."

• He said "Everton hold all the cards" in regards to Jarrad Branthwaite because he is on a three-year contract. Moyes added: "I wouldn't think he's one of the players we will want to lose."

• On whether Forest's contrasting seasons of battling relegation to Champions League hopes is something Everton can take inspiration from: "We did it at West Ham. We were battling relegation and then we qualified for Europe."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Everton manager David Moyes speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about his Goodison Park memories: "It is an old lady, lots of style, it got done up to keep it going but every Evertonian has been waiting for the chance to move to a new stadium. See it as a new opportunity, a new beginning. I do as well. I think there is a chance now we try to move Everton on, bigger crowds come in and bigger opportunity to present ourselves to lots of players. 'Why don't you come and play here?'

"I don't think I can describe Goodison in one word. There have been times where I have loved it, small tunnel, dressing room and manager's office, but it is a special place more importantly because of the people who come to it. The supporters who come, the atmosphere that is made and over the years there have been brilliant managers that have worked here and brilliant players who have played there. We will be sad to see it go. Great moving to a new stadium but we have to be cautious, it is never easy but hopefully the supporters will give us the same backing that we have had over the years."

Read the full interview with Moyes here

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Six of Everton's past eight Premier League games have been drawn, while the Toffees have drawn 14 league matches overall this season.

Only in 1994-95 (17), 2010-11 (15), and 2012-13 (15) have they drawn more Premier League matches in a single campaign.

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Everton fan Lee McClean says "it's hard" to think the club only have three more games at Goodison Park, and is also hopeful a decision is made very shortly as to when the final home game will be played.

Speaking about the stadium and how the overall feeling has changed through the season, McClean said: "It is different now - especially since David Moyes came in, the whole place has been invigorated a bit more.

"He's put more of an emphasis on how important Goodison is and tapped into the feelings of the fan base. You are finding yourself counting down and taking things in a bit more and social media activity - you're seeing a lot of people posting photos and memories.

"It's getting very real now, we've known this is happening for four years but it's only now we're thinking 'oh my word!'

"In less than a month's time we're going to be saying goodbye to this place forever - it's hard.

"It's all about taking it in and I'm just very pleased and grateful we can just enjoy and absorb these last three games and not have anything on it. We can properly take it in and just enjoy it - it's going to be an emotional day for a lot of people."

McClean spoke about how his biggest worry is that no final decision has been made as to when Everton's final home game will be played, stopping fans from finalising their plans.

The Toffees are currently due to host Southampton at 15:00 BST on Sunday 18th May, but this is yet to be confirmed, with the television picks for that weekend yet to be decided.

McClean added: "With it being the last game at Goodison Park, surely there should have been some sort of exception where Everton have a say and the correct decision is made for the fans and the club - no one else apart from Everton really care about it being Goodison's last game."

"It's just Everton fans - that should be the only thing coming into consideration. I would've hoped that an exception could have been made and the club could have a say, rather than the TV companies having the final say - so common sense prevails and they do the right thing for the fans, because it doesn't happen enough.

"In this case it's really important, this is generations worth of history - it means a lot and you just want the right thing to happen. We were told the decision was going to be made this week, but we've not heard anything and you just want to know either way so you can make plans."

Listen to the full interview here