Kenny: Everton will be delighted to be shot of Walcott after ‘staggering’ Athletic reveal
Theo Walcott’s wages at Everton were “staggering” and the club will be very relieved to have him off the books.
That is according to ex-Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after the Athletic revealed the winger had taken a 50 per cent pay cut to join Southampton.
That report claims that the 32-year-old’s original Everton contract, which is due to expire at the end of the month, is worth £150,000-a-week.
The 47-cap England international will join Southampton permanently this summer after spending the season on loan at St. Mary’s in 2020-21.
Football Insider first revealed that Everton had told Walcott he was free to find a new club on 11th May.
Kenny admitted the £150,000 figure is “staggering” and claimed that Everton can now reinvest the funds more wisely.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “Wow… That’s honestly staggering to me. For Everton to pay out that kind of money is frightening.
“Walcott, he is at the back end of his career. It was always going to be tough to maintain his standards after starting so young.
“He was past the peak when he went to Everton. For them to pay that amount of money, they’ll be delighted to have got him off the wage bill.
“Hopefully they can now use the money to invest more wisely in other people.”
Everton paid Arsenal £20million for Walcott back in 2018.
He played 85 times for the Toffees, scoring 11 goals and assisting nine.
In other news, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright championing David Moyes for vacant managerial post at Goodison Park.