Everton players in the last chance saloon
After the recent announcement of Tom Davies penning a new five-year deal at Everton, it got me wondering which other players may also be in need for new deals because their contracts are expiring next year.
Here is a list of all Everton’s professionally contracted players with contracts expiring in the summer of 2017:
First Team Players (Players with >1 appearance) | Youth Team Players |
Gareth Barry | Russell Griffiths |
Arouna Kone | Joe Williams |
Conor McAleny | Antonee Robinson |
Tyias Browning | Courtney Duffus |
Gethin Jones | Liam Walsh |
The most high profile of those whose contracts are expiring is Gareth Barry. Barry had a solid season last year, scooping up both the Fans’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
However at 35, age is not on the side of the midfielder, and with the recent addition of Idrissa Gueye and the upcoming of Tom Davies, Ronald Koeman may opt not to renew the contract of Gareth Barry.
Arouna Kone is another player who only has one-year remaining on his contract. Kone has been the backup striker to Romelu Lukaku throughout the entirety of his three years at Everton.
Often overshadowed by his Belgium counterpart, the Ivorian filled in well last campaign when needed, netting five goals. However, at 32 years of age, the striker’s ability is likely to deteriorate and therefore it would be no surprise to see the striker released in 2017.
Conor McAleny has been a talking point for Everton recently after being excluded from the first team throughout the preseason and then stripped of his number when the squad numbers earlier this week.
The 23-year-old forward is evidently not rated within the club, and if he does not leave permanently during the next two windows, I’m very confident he will leave permanently next summer.
Also entering the final year of his deal is right-back Gethin Jones. Gethin was another youngster to make his debut in the 2014 Europa League game against Krasnodar, however, has not made another appearance since.
The 20-year-old defender (who can also play in midfield) not only captains the Everton U23s but also the Wales U21s. Gethin has a big season ahead of him, whether it is as skipper of the U23s or on loan in order to prove his worth as a future Everton player.
In terms the youth team players, five players of note that have contracts ending in 2017 are goalkeeper Russell Griffiths, 20, left back Antonee Robinson, 18, midfielders Joe Williams and Liam Walsh, 19 and 18 respectively, and striker Courtney Duffus, 20. All of those young players have been on the cusp of the first team at some point, but will all need to fight for Everton careers in the upcoming season.