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£20m loanee drops hint about quitting Everton

Emma Simpson - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images
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Theo Walcott of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on February 8, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Theo Walcott has intimated that he isn’t interested in returning to Everton after his loan at Southampton ends next summer.

The 31-year-old attacker joined the Toffees from Arsenal in 2018 for £20 million but had struggled for form under Carlo Ancelotti.

Walcott managed just two Premier League goals in 25 appearances for Everton in that competition last term.

The Italian coach loaned him back to boyhood club Southampton last month, and the player himself has hinted that he hopes it ‘can be a long-term thing’ after speaking glowingly about manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

He told the Saints’ website: “The manager has pulled me to one side a few times and put me in a room to go through a lot of tactics, which is nice to see, just to get my coaching head on, because that’s something in the future I might want to look at.

“It’s very interesting. I’m really enjoying my short time working with the manager at the moment and hopefully it can be a long-term thing.”

If we’re honest, the writing was on the wall for Walcott at Everton for a while.

James Rodriguez’s arrival at Goodison Park this past summer effectively confirmed that Ancelotti had no plans for him on Merseyside.

That being said, he looks to be enjoying his football on the South Coast once again, starting and playing a big role in the 3-3 draw away to Chelsea earlier this month.

At this stage it seems best for all parties if he doesn’t go back to Everton.

Emma Simpson – Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images