What future for Everton loan players next season?
By Zac Jones
It’s tough to predict how Everton will shape up heading into next season. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the club in both the long-term and short-term. We take a look at the future of some of the Blues loan players.
The Toffees are expected to invest heavily yet again this Summer in order to avoid a repeat of this season’s dismal campaign. The rumour mill is already running wild and linking Everton with a whole host of players.
Therefore, nobody is guaranteed a place in the starting line-up for next season at this stage. Everybody is fighting to prove their worth to the club in the remaining fixtures of the current campaign.
But where does that leave the players that have been loaned out from the club?
The Blues have 15 players out on loan currently, 9 of which have been in and around the first team in recent seasons. A decision will have to be made soon as to whether these players still have a part to play at the club or if they should be sold.
Let’s take a look at the players in question and give our verdict on if Everton should keep or sell them.
Sandro Ramirez (Currently loaned to Sevilla)
Sandro was tipped for success when he arrived at the club at the beginning of the season. Many pundits felt that Everton had acquired the bargain of the transfer window by signing him for just over £5 million.
And this after an impressive season with Malaga in the 2016/17 campaign.
Unfortunately, he has not lived up to these expectations and has failed to show the qualities that many were expecting from him.
Since being loaned back to Spain, this time with Sevilla, Sandro has made it clear that he has no desire to return to Merseyside and is hoping for a transfer away from the club as soon as possible.
I don’t envisage many Toffees begging him to change his mind after what they have seen from him in an Everton shirt.
Verdict: SELL
Callum Connolly (Currently loaned to Ipswich Town)
By all accounts, Callum Connolly’s loan spell at Ipswich has been a successful one. He has earned positive reviews for some strong displays which will have impressed Everton’s coaching staff.
Despite suggesting the possibility of a permanent move to Ipswich next season, the Toffees will surely be looking to keep hold of the 20-year-old who looks set have a bright future in the game.
Verdict: KEEP
Muhammed Besic (Currently loaned to Middlesborough)
Besic has wasted no time in cementing a starting place in the Middlesborough side after joining the club on loan in the January transfer window.
The Bosnian midfielder quickly won over the Boro supporters, which will come as no surprise to Everton fans who also took to Besic early on due to his physical and committed performances.
Middlesborough reportedly want to make this transfer permanent in the Summer and, although it would be sad to see him go, maybe this would be the best move for Besic at this stage of his career.
Verdict: SELL
Matthew Pennington (Currently loaned to Leeds)
Featuring intermittently for Leeds’ starting XI over the course of the season, Pennington has reportedly had a decent loan spell in the Championship. Although his overall consistency has been called into question at times.
It is unlikely that Pennington will break into Everton’s first team next season, but he could prove to be valuable back-up in the squad. Or perhaps another loan move may benefit the young centre-back.
Either way, Pennington is thought to be highly regarded at the club and I don’t expect him to be sold anytime soon.
Verdict: KEEP
Tyias Browning (Currently loaned to Sunderland)
Tyias Browning has endured a tough season at relegation-threatened Sunderland. Despite being a regular in the side, he hasn’t had much success in the Championship.
The last year will have been a steep learning curve for the 23-year-old.
Browning’s current campaign has been cut short after a recent groin injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
He is a promising young centre-back, but he is unlikely to feature regularly in Everton’s starting XI anytime soon. Perhaps a permanent move to a Championship side may be more beneficial for his development as a player.
Verdict: SELL
Brendan Galloway (Currently loaned to Sunderland)
Browning’s fellow Sunderland-loanee, Brendan Galloway, has also had a nightmare of a season, but for different reasons. Galloway has rarely featured for the Championship side and was hoping to end his loan spell in January.
Unfortunately, that never materialised and he has been stuck at Sunderland, watching from the sidelines.
Galloway looked set for big things at Everton when he first burst onto the scene. He will be looking to remind everyone of his qualities in the Summer.
He will want to show that the solution to the Toffees’ left-back problems is sat right in front of them.
Verdict: KEEP
Ademola Lookman (Currently loaned to RB Leipzig)
Lookman made an immediate impression on the Toffees’ faithful after scoring with virtually his first touch for the club in the memorable 4-0 victory over Manchester City last year.
He followed this up with a number of impressive cameos this season, most notably his two goals against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League.
Despite this, he was unable to cement a first-team place and was eventually loaned out to Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig in January.
Lookman has huge potential and Everton must fight off the reported interest from other clubs to hold onto him in the Summer.
Verdict: KEEP
Kieran Dowell (Currently loaned to Nottingham Forest)
Kieran Dowell was lighting up the Championship during the first half of the season with multiple impressive displays and a number of stunning goals.
However, he has come in for some criticism from the Forest supporters over recent months. This resulted in him losing his place in the starting line-up and his overall potential being called into question.
The general feeling amongst Everton fans is that Dowell has shown his quality during his time at Forest and that a dip in form is normal for a player of his age.
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This should be looked back on as a successful loan spell for the youngster and the Toffees should be excited to see what he can do for them next season.
Verdict: KEEP
Kevin Mirallas (Currently loaned to Olympiakos)
Mirallas joined Everton in August 2012 and it has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the Belgian since then.
From stunning solo goals and game-winning performances to training ground bust-ups and penalty debacles, you never know what you’re going to get from Kevin Mirallas.
He has been brilliant for the club at times but has never been able to deliver on a consistent basis.
Also, there always seems to uncertainty surrounding his future at the club and this season has been no different, especially since his January loan move to Olympiakos.
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With enough problems for the Everton board to deal with already, maybe now is the time to cash-in on Mirallas and ship him out of the club.
Verdict: SELL