Everton: 5 possible replacements for Leighton Baines

Here are five possible replacements for Leighton Baines who dropped curtains on his 13 year Everton career at the end of the season.

Leighton Baines bowed out on July 26, 2020, appearing in the Royal Blue jersey for the final time. The 35 year old retired from professional football after spending 13 years at Everton. The Toffees legend moved to Merseyside from Wigan in 2008 and since then was a mainstay in the team. Managers came and went but Leighton Baines was a constant in the team. When you think about the greatest Everton players, Baines is right up there, on top of the list.

One of the best and loyal captains whose career can’t be defined in a few hundred words. Leighton Baines formed a formidable full back partnership with Seamus Coleman and the duo was regarded as one of the best full back pairings in the Premier League.

Everything comes to an end and Baines’ time at Everton has certainly come to an end. The show must go on and Everton will have to think of a replacement. In the later years, the legend was more of a substitute player and provided cover to Lucas Digne, who is in his prime.

Carlo Ancelotti is fond of the Frenchman and would like to have him as the first choice for the upcoming season as well. It makes no sense to disrupt Digne’s rhythm and bring in a top left back for a stupid amount of money. So, what Everton need is just a back up in the left back position.

The Toffees did seal a deal for 19 year old left back Niels Nkounkou but he will go to the U-23 team and is unlikely to feature in the first team. Here is a list of possible options that Everton can think of for replacing Leighton Baines in the current squad.