According to The Sun (h/t HITC), Fabian Delph could be granted a departure from Everton this summer amid interest from Leeds United and Burnley, but the report says he’ll only be loaned out. It’s not surprising that the 30-year-old is deemed surplus to requirements after his woeful debut season at Goodison Park, but why wouldn’t we entertain a permanent deal?
We still need backup in midfield
I’ve spoken about our need for backup in midfield and my point still stands. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Allan, Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure are regulars in the engine room, but Tom Davies, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin and Beni Baningime are providing cover – all of whom have uncertain futures.
Davies has been linked with a move to Southampton, Sigurdsson has been linked with a move to the MLS, Gbamin is sidelined with an achilles injury until 2021 and Baningime is playing in the reserves. As a result, we may actually need to keep Delph. When fit, he’s an effective box-to-box player who can operate in multiple roles, but he’s so far left a lot to be desired.
The 30-year-old made 20/43 appearances in 2019/20 and has just one appearance to his name this season. He’s struggled with multiple injuries and earns £80k-per-week, so it’s hard to see why clubs would be queuing up to procure his signature.
Reinvest his transfer fee or retain his services
We paid £8.55m to sign Delph last summer and would likely want a similar fee to sell him, but I can’t see many suitors matching his £4.16m-a-year wages.
The England international has two years remaining on his deal, so it would cost clubs £14.71m (£8.55m + £4.16m + £4.16m) to sign him until 2022. Given Delph’s poor debut season at Everton, coupled with him turning 31 in November, that isn’t value for money.
I think we’d be better off retaining his services if we can’t sell him permanently. Delph is still useful in a backup role and has a wealth of experience, so loaning him out and not getting any money for it seems pointless.