Here are your Everton evening headlines for Wednesday September 9.
Everton’s summer signings have ensured Richarlison has got what he wants
Richarlison has made a significant impact in his two years at Everton, prompting links with Barcelona, but these seem far-fetched after the latest additions to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
The Brazilian signed a new contract in December, and has been joined at Goodison Park by Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez.
All three will be able to help Richarlison in different ways, ensuring he has the necessary quality around him to help take Everton up the table.
Doucoure played with the Brazilian at Watford, while Allan is an international colleague, and James has plenty of expertise to offer after spending most of the last decade playing with the world’s best in Madrid and Munich.
We’ve looked at how the three new signings can benefit Richarlison and convince him he’s at the right club for the long haul.
Doucoure denies kicking Digne after new team-mate’s welcome message
Everton’s newest signing, Abdoulaye Doucoure, will be reunited with compatriot Lucas Digne after the pair came up together through the French youth system.
Doucoure completed his move from Watford this week, in a deal worth a reported £20million, joining Allan and James Rodriguez among the Toffees’ new recruits.
And Digne welcomed him to Merseyside with an Instagram post sharing a photo of the pair on international duty, writing: “From the U16 to Everton I’m so happy for you bro (not because you don’t kick me [any] more) just because you are an amazing player and an amazing man.”
Doucoure responded with a photo of Digne on the turf when Everton and Watford met in the league last season, with the caption “Bro I don’t kick you (it wasn’t me). Thanks bro, can’t wait to play again with you my man.”
Doucoure and DIgne both played for France all the way up to under-21 level, but Digne is the only one of the two to also earn senior caps.
Everton ask if Joe Wicks should be supporting them rather than Chelsea
Celebrity fitness instructor Joe Wicks has revealed himself to be a Chelsea supporter, but Everton have questioned whether he should be supporting them instead.
Wicks was asked about his allegiances before appearing in the Soccer Aid match last weekend, and explained how he landed on Chelsea.
However, the 33-year-old was corrected on his recollection - first by fans, and then by Everton FC themselves.
“The first memory that I’ve got of football is, I think it was 1995, the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Man United,” Wicks said .
“My dad was going to do a bet for us and I was only little and he said ‘do you want blue or red?’ and I said ‘I want the blue team.’
“So that was the first day I became a Chelsea fan basically.”
Of course, Chelsea and Manchester United met in the 1994 final, while the 1995 game saw Everton beat United 1-0.
Everton sent Wicks an eyeglass emoji, along with the words “If you know your history”. Did Wicks just get the year wrong, or should he have been supporting a different club for the last 25 years?
