Everton have had a difficult couple of years in the Premier League, but the Blues have survived to fight another day in the top level after facing relegation twice.

Despite multiple scares that have threatened their 69-year run in the top flight of English football, Sean Dyche’s side has started the 2023/24 season in a similar vein to the previous two years.

Without a win in four games, the Toffees are once again on shaky ground early in the season, with plenty of opportunity to improve as the season progresses.

Five good summer additions reinforced the squad in preparation for the next challenges, with the group more than capable of delivering an enhanced level of form once they get going.

There is plenty of talent on display at Goodison Park, with youthful stars, new arrivals, and reliable figures working together to tackle the club’s issues, with few players as important to the team as one name in particular; Abdoulaye Doucoure.

How much did Everton pay for Abdoulaye Doucoure?

When Everton needed a bright spot on the final day of last season, Doucoure delivered, earning the Toffees the three points they needed to stay in the Premier League.

Everton signed the midfielder from Watford for £20 million in 2020, but the fee was arguably cancelled the day he saved the Blues from relegation, with relegation costing nearly £50 million in the best-case scenario. However, his impact extends far beyond the sensational blow.

What does Doucoure have to offer Everton?

The Mali international, who can play in both advanced and deeper sections of the ground, has already opened his scoring tally for the season, scoring against Sheffield United to give the Blues their first goal of the season.

Doucoure’s ability was exhibited to England during his time at Watford, when his strengths in the middle of the park shined brilliantly, where he already had 129 Premier League appearances under his belt at the time of signing for the Merseyside club.

Despite Everton’s problems, the 30-year-old was described as the “most important” player at Goodison Park by a Football Recruitment Analyst during Rafael Benitez’s tenure as manager.

Last season, the orchestrating midfielder was the club’s third-highest Premier League goalscorer, with five goals and two assists in 25 games.

Doucoure’s scoring record over the past year places him in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 0.31 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes to demonstrate his versatility, according to FBref.

Last season, the Malian ace averaged 1.82 tackles and 1.53 blocks per 90 minutes in the Premier League, demonstrating his strengths in defensive duties as well, articulating the rounded aspects to his game and how important he is to Everton.

This season, his performances have seen him average a Sofascore match rating of 7.05, indicating that the ageing star is maintaining his consistent level of form, reaffirming the influence he has when on the pitch for the Blues.

In today’s game, a £20m expenditure on the midfielder was one of the finest pieces of business pulled out by the Toffees over the years, especially when you consider the money he’s made by keeping them in the division.