Republic of Ireland star Shane Duffy is starring in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion, four years after Everton let him go.
Everton have been forced to spend a lot of money in an attempt to shore up a shaky back line. Michael Keane arrived for £30 million last year and Colombia international Yerry Mina was signed from Barcelona for a similar fee in August.
Kurt Zouma, meanwhile, rocked up at Goodison Park on loan from Chelsea.
But could Everton have saved themselves a lot of effort and money by keeping Shane Duffy on Merseyside? Liam Brady certainly thinks so.
Republic of Ireland international Duffy rose through the ranks at Everton and made his professional debut for the club in 2009. But after just five Premier League appearances for the Toffees, he was sold to Blackburn Rovers four years ago for £1.5 million, according to the Liverpool Echo.
And Ireland legend Brady believes this is a decision they will live to regret, with Duffy currently impressing at the heart of Brighton’s back line.
“He’s probably going to be one of those players that the club he grew up at (Everton) are going to regret that they ever let him go,” former Arsenal and West Ham star Brady told The Argus.
“He has developed into one of the better centre-backs that we have in the Premier League.”
Duffy has formed an excellent partnership with Lewis Dunk at Brighton, helping the Seagulls win promotion to the Premier League in 2017 before establishing themselves in the top flight, comfortably avoiding relegation last season.
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