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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
David Maddock

Everton offer Leighton Baines contract extension as club look to reward long-serving defender

Leighton Baines has been offered a one-year deal by Everton, with Carlo Ancelotti keen to keep his experience at the club.

With the financial situation uncertain within football at present because of the coronavirus crisis, most Premier League clubs are keen to offload players who are out of contract this summer.

But the Toffees have a few injuries as the resumption of the season approaches, and they are ready tie up long-serving Baines for another season.

Manager Ancelotti has made no secret of his admiration for the England international, and he believes the player’s versatility can help Everton as they look to trim their squad further.

He currently acts as cover for first-choice left-back Lucas Digne, but can also play in a defensive midfield role, and further forward on the left.

Leighton Baines has been offered a one-year deal by Everton (Action Images via Reuters)

Everton also have Oumar Niasse, Cuco Martina and Maarten Stekelenburg out of contract on June 30, but so far, no decision has been made over whether to offer new short term deals.

Clubs can extend current contracts until the end of the 2019-20 season, or for a further year, but the Blues will wait until close to the end of the month to decide.

They have problems with Yerry Mina and Jean-Philippe Gbamin both picking up serious injuries in training, as the season’s restart on June 17 approaches.

Baines has been at Everton for almost 13 years, and is regarded as one of the greatest and most popular players in the club’s history.

Everton kick off the Premier League's resumption with a local derby against Liverpool on the opening weekend.

Ancelotti will likely have to select Michael Keane and Mason Holgate as his centre-back partnership in Mina's absence.

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