Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Phil Kirkbride

Everton have a new transfer priority ahead of summer window

Everton have now added a left-back to their summer transfer search following Leighton Baines' retirement.

The Blues offered Baines a new one year deal but the 35-year-old has decided to retire from football.

Everton are left with Lucas Digne as the squad's only senior player in that position.

And so the club will now pursue someone who can provide the back-up and competition they hoped Baines would.

The Blues signed 19-year-old Niels Nkounkou on a free transfer earlier this month but he will spend the bulk of the season with Everton's under-23s.

And it was hoped that the French teenager would be able to learn from both Digne and Baines over the course of the next 12 months before being ready for the senior stage.

But Baines' decision to call time on his career means Everton will have to scour the market for a replacement.

And, at this stage, it looks likely that they would look to sign a player on loan or on a short-term deal.

*Sign up for our free daily Everton FC newsletter.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.