Everton's Ancelotti plays down talk of Walcott exit

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Sheffield United v Everton - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - July 20, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Rui Vieira

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident Theo Walcott will not leave the club in the transfer window after omitting the English winger from the squad for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Walcott, who arrived from Arsenal in 2018, has made one appearance for Everton this season, in the 3-0 League Cup win over Salford City.

The 31-year-old has not featured in the Merseyside club's last three matches and British media have linked him with a move to Leeds United.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Everton - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 26, 2020 Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer

Asked whether Walcott could leave the club in the transfer window, Ancelotti said: "I don't think so. The problem is the competition is really high in this moment. Sometimes it can happen that a player, like Theo, is not involved.

"Unfortunately, this is the decision I have to take and I am not absolutely happy to take this kind of decision, to leave out a player like Walcott. A player who is professional, serious in training and always ready."

Everton, who are second in the Premier League standings with three wins from three, face West Ham United in the League Cup on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)