The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

Everton are set to extend Abdoulaye Doucoure’s contract by a further year. 

That’s according to the Liverpool ECHO which reports the midfielder has been keen to commit his future to the Club for some time, and that “Everton are now expected to trigger the option to keep him at Goodison Park for a further 12 months.” 

Doucoure joined the Toffees in September 2020 and had been a key player, but he found minutes on the pitch hard to come by in the first half of this campaign.  

Manager Sean Dyche adjusted Everton’s formation upon his appointment at the end of January and reintroduced Doucoure to the starting XI. The Mali international has started every game he has been available since - scoring crucial goals in the away draws at Nottingham Forest and Chelsea and an important brace in the 5-1 success at Brighton & Hove Albion. 

The same publication also runs with the story that midfielder Tom Davies is facing a battle to be available for Bournemouth on Sunday. 

Davies – an Academy graduate who joined the Club aged 11 - has been absent for the past two matchday squads due to an injury to his hamstring.  

He’s not been available since the win at Brighton where he was an unused substitute and was not named in the squad against Premier League champions Manchester City, with Dyche confirming Davies' exclusion was due to a fitness issue sustained in between those two fixtures.  

In the article, Joe Thomas writes: “Uncertainty surrounds the future of Davies and the rest of the Everton squad members whose contracts expire this summer.  

“Dyche has stressed that ensuring Premier League survival is his main focus and, while initial conversations have taken place with those affected and their representatives, serious attention cannot turn to next season before those at the Club know which league they are preparing to compete in.” 

Finally, Sky Sports details the ramifications of Leicester City's 0-0 draw at Newcastle United on Monday night. The Foxes are one of Everton's remaining relegation rivals, alongside Leeds United. 

An Everton win against Bournemouth this Sunday (4.30pm BST) ensures their survival. However, the article also explains: "Everton will be certain of surviving if Leeds fail to beat Tottenham and Leicester don't beat West Ham on the final day. 

"As it stands, Leeds need a win to have any hope of staying up and could still be relegated even if they beat Tottenham next Sunday and Everton don't beat Bournemouth because Leicester sit above them in the table on goal difference.

"Leicester have to beat West Ham to have any hope of avoiding relegation, and hope Bournemouth can take something from their final-day game at Everton, and that Leeds don't manage the unthinkable and overturn their nine-goal superior goal difference.

"In the event that Leicester don't win on Sunday, goal difference could yet prove decisive in a head-to-head fight to avoid the drop between Everton and Leeds."