Sam Allardyce believes Everton’s willingness to pay £20m for
Theo Walcott is a further indication he will remain manager next season and possibly beyond his 18-month contract.
The Everton manager confirmed interest in the
Arsenal winger on Friday, with the club in advanced talks to beat Walcott’s former employers Southampton to his signature. Everton have signed Turkey’s Cenk Tosun this month for an initial £21m. The former Besiktas forward could make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday.
Everton’s heavy spending follows their record transfer outlay last summer when £140m was invested in seven additions to the first-team squad with poor results. Allardyce, who signed a short-term contract to succeed the sacked Ronald Koeman, believes the hierarchy’s financial commitment to his January aims is evidence he has a long-term future at the club.
Asked whether Everton’s spending strengthened his conviction he would be the manager next season, Allardyce replied: “Yes. In my opinion I came here on a short-term contract because it suited us both, which doesn’t mean to say it won’t be a long-term tender because a contract for me doesn’t matter that much.
“If it was a longer contract it would still have the same pay-off. If it were four years it wouldn’t have a four-year pay-off, it would have a short one. I’m happy with a short pay-off because both sides need to know where they are going. If I’m not satisfied with them, I want to leave and if they’re not satisfied with me, they want me to leave. The equation is quite simple then because at my time of life I want that relationship with a football club.
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-signing-theo-walcott-sam-allardyce-confirms