Sean Dyche has indicated Everton will not make any decisions on player futures until their relegation scrap is resolved.
And that means some influential figures like skipper Seamus Coleman, loanee Conor Coady, midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, Yerry Mina and young star Tom Davies all must wait to see which division the Blues end up in.
Speaking ahead of an important trip to Manchester United, Dyche made clear that the looming threat of the drop will play a huge part in the tough contract decisions to be made at the end of the campaign. Dyche was asked about Coady, who was signed on a year long loan with a view to the permanent move for just £4m, but he replied by suggesting the current situation will determine the futures of many in his squad.
“No, no, no discussions,” he said of Coady. “Just at the minute we are open minded to what the future brings for a number of different players. It’s not a difficult situation, it’s just a situation. There’s lots of them here, I can assure you, lots of interesting situations. But the priority is not to do with contracts, but to do with what the team are doing.”
Club captain Coleman has been hugely influential under Dyche, with some man of the match performances since the new boss arrived, and is out of contract in the summer, with no guarantees of an extension.
The Blues boss is a big fan though, and will push to give the Ireland international a new deal, even for a year. But the rest may depend on finances dictated by the fight for Premier League survival. There is an option to extend Doucoure’s deal for a year, but Dyche explained: “We will see how the season carries on going but he’s done very well.”
Coady looked guaranteed to have his loan made permanent given the low fee, but relegation could scupper that plan, with Dyche explaining: “There haven’t been discussions, but he’s been exceptional with his professional standards, you all know that anyway, he’s that type.”
Another loan signing Ruben Vinagre looks certain to be sent back to Sporting Lisbon at the end of the campaign, while others like Asmir Begovic and Andros Townsend are also out of contract.
Mina looks certain to leave when his contract is up, but Davies is the most interesting. He was one of the club’s bright young stars, but has largely featured as a sub under Dyche, and could leave on a free at the end of the season if he chooses to.
Doucoure is suspended for the visit to Manchester United after being dismissed against Spurs, and Dyche’s choice of a replacement between Davies and summer signing James Garner, formerly of United, will be illuminating.
