Everton boss Sean Dyche has told off Arnaut Danjuma for taking an eight-minute flight from Manchester Airport to Liverpool Airport to link up with his teammates at training. Dyche described the Villareal loanee’s mode of transport as “excessive” and revealed that he has spoken to the player about it behind closed doors.
The bizarre revelation came after Dyche was pressed on Danjuma’s future during his press conference amid reports that the 26-year-old could be moving to Lyon this month. “The situation is very simple, he’s an Everton player, that’s it,” said Dyche.
“He’s still here, he played the last game, he’s got a fair chance of playing the next one. Certainly, he’s never been outside of our plans so he remains an Everton player.
“So there isn’t really a story, I keep getting things like quotes I’ve said like, ‘He’s not part of his plans.’ I don’t know where they come from, no one asked me so since you’re asking me, he’s an Everton player and he’ll be part of what we do.”
Dyche was then asked about an Instagram post of the former Bournemouth star sitting on a plane, suggesting he could be on the move. But Dyche claims this is just how Danjuma travels to training.
“I had a word with him and I said, ‘It seems excessive to go from Manchester Airport to Liverpool Airport for training’,” replied Dyche. “But you know, these modern players… personally I’d use a car, but the modern players, they need to look after themselves, get their rest.”
Danjuma has only played 10 Premier League games for Everton this season, including three starts, which has led his agent, Michael-Moses Jarman, to open up communication lines with Lyon. However, the Netherlands international is said to be “happy and settled” at Goodison Park.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Jarman said: “There are conversations afloat, we’ve had interest. Look, he’s happy and settled at Everton, he’s got a contract, so it’s only respectful that that’s the way the conversation stands.
“He’s not getting his minutes at the moment under Mr Dyche and what’s best for his career is to play football. So yeah, there’s been interest and conversations ongoing with Lyon, it’s been reported in the media, that’s why I’ll confirm it.”
