Tom Davies must look to cash in on the transfer interest emerging from Southampton after Carlo Ancelotti snubbed the outcast midfielder in Everton’s Carabao Cup win over West Ham United.
What’s the word?
According to reports by Sky Sports, Southampton are interested in signing Davies before the summer transfer window slams shut next Monday given the midfielder’s continued decline in the pecking order following the arrivals of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure at Goodison Park.
Everton are open to parting ways with their academy product ahead of Deadline Day, but have thus far responded to the Saints’ approach by informing the south coast outfit that Davies is only available for a permanent transfer, while Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side would prefer a loan deal at present.
Davies has been a constant outcast of manager Ancelotti’s plans in the new campaign, with the Italian only calling on the £14.4m-valued 22-year-old to play a total of two minutes in the Premier League to date.
Game time has been more forthcoming in the Carabao Cup, however Davies found himself among the unused substitutes as Everton thrashed West Ham 4-1 on Wednesday night, having played the full 90 minutes against Salford City and the final 28 minutes against Fleetwood Town in the earlier rounds.
Ancelotti’s latest snub must act as a signal to Davies that his time, at least immediately, is up at Goodison Park, and must therefore urge the Italian and Director of Football Marcel Brands to work on securing him a move to Southampton before the window closes.
Chance to impress
If Southampton are only interested in taking Davies on loan, and no other offers arrive before Monday, then Everton must see the move as an opportunity for the 22-year-old to impress not only themselves but other potential suitors.
Davies’ fall from grace on Merseyside started well before the arrivals of Allan and Doucoure in the summer, given Ancelotti seemingly lost patience with the England U21 international shortly into his tenure by the infrequency in which he featured last season.
To now be resigned to a back-up role that returns scarce outings even from the bench, Davies must be aware that this summer presents a great chance to secure minutes elsewhere otherwise risk his career stagnating behind the established ranks.
The player who burst onto the scene in 2017 and vowed ‘this is just the start’ is no more, but in his place stands a young man who completed 93% of his 85 passes, took 102 touches and attempted four dribbles against Salford, per SofaScore, and can still find a club – such as Southampton – where he can thrive once again.
AND in other news, a long-time Everton star has emerged as a transfer option for a Premier League competitor.
