Lots of Everton fans on social media are hoping Leeds United make a move to sign Fabian Delph in the summer following the Elland Road outfit’s promotion back into the Premier League.
Leeds secured their long-awaited return to the top-flight on Friday night and will now look to celebrate clinching the Championship title on Sunday when they visit Derby County, and many Everton supporters seem to want the West Yorkshire side to make Delph one of their first signings of the summer.
Delph graduated from Leeds’ academy to make his senior debut away to Derby aged 17 years, five months back in May 2007 and went on to make 57 further first-team appearances for the Whites.
His last game for the club came during a loan spell from Aston Villa, who bought Delph from Leeds in 2009, but the 30-year-old has always felt indebted to the Elland Road side for what he has gone on to achieve in his career.
Delph has not achieved much during his Everton career to date, having played just 1,471 minutes for the Toffees since his £10million switch from Manchester City a year ago and last featured under Carlo Ancelotti in February’s defeat at home to Arsenal.
The Gunners clash saw Delph make his 13th Premier League start for Everton, added to three substitute appearances, in which the England midfielder has recorded no goals or assists while only recording three shots, seven key balls, 58 accurate long passes, 26 tackles and 15 interceptions, per WhoScored data.
His performances have clearly left large corners of the Goodison Park faithful underwhelmed, with many wishing to see the £80,000-per-week flop axed in the summer…
PLEASE SIGN DELPH @LUFC
— Gamble (@Gamble1878) July 17, 2020
Give him a free transfer @everton
— JMurphyEFC (@jmurphefc) July 17, 2020
I beg you please, i’ll buy the petrol and a maccies on the way too
— Declan (@dos_efc) July 17, 2020
I cannot support this enough.
— Tony Ladde (@itr_TonyLadde) July 17, 2020
i’d just give him to leeds, no fee required and get rid of his 80k and terrible attitude
— Lynsey Alexander (@Alexlyn83) July 18, 2020
As an evertonian, I agree. Please sign him!!!
— dave baldwin (@dixiedave1) July 18, 2020
Yes please @LUFC he’s the best player I’ve ever saw at Everton, please sign him.
— E.F.C KIAN (@Kian0201) July 17, 2020
Not all Everton supporters would like to see Delph sold after the first year of his three-year contract, as some still believe the midfielder has a part to play in Ancelotti’s plans.
Unpopular opinion: We could use him in the squad
— Viral (@Viral1035) July 18, 2020
Others, on the other hand, want to see the back of Delph but do not feel a homecoming is likely as the 30-year-old would not suit what Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa demands of his players, while the midfielder’s injury issues could also cause problems.
Delph suffered the first injury of his Everton career during a pre-season clash with Werder Bremen last summer that ruled him out of the opening games of the Premier League season. He then suffered a hamstring injury in October, aggravated the issue in November and later missed games through illness and suspension.
Not a chance bielsa touches this guy. He’s all about players who take personal responsibility, who work for the team, unwavering loyalty to each other. This coward actively hides from the ball, he actually moves to be covered. Publicly slates teammates despite his own ineptitude.
— Flynnyboy (@Flynnyboy6) July 17, 2020
He’d get injured on the way to his medical
— Paul Carroll (@carroll3_p) July 17, 2020