Premier League Everton sold Shane Duffy for just £1.5m in 2014 – now he’s helping Brighton and Hove Albion beat Manchester United.
Shane Duffy might have been without his central defensive partner Lewis Dunk for the vast majority of Brighton’s clash with Manchester United on Sunday but it’s fair to say he responded in style.
Duffy stepped up after Dunk was forced off through injury in the first-half. He scored with an ice-cool finish at one end before keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet at the other as Brighton sealed a dramatic and deserved 3-2 win.
In fact, the 26-year-old’s performance was one of the best defensive displays so far in the Premier League season. And, after starting 37 league games as Brighton stayed up with relative ease in 2017/18, it is about time he got the credit he deserves.
For over a year now, Duffy has been producing the kind of quietly assured display that should have Everton fans wondering why they sold him to Blackburn Rovers in 2014 for just £1.5 million, as reported by The Mail.
The Republic of Ireland international started his career at Everton but made just five Premier League appearances for the Merseyside giants. And you could make a case that he would have walked into the side last season ahead of Ashley Williams and the £30 million Michael Keane.
This summer, Everton spent big on luring Yerry Mina to Goodison Park while landing Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma on loan. All of this expense could have been saved, though, if they had just given Duffy time to develop into the Premier League qualify centre-half he is today.
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