Everton offer new contract to defender Ryan Astley

Everton have reportedly offered a new contract to 19-year-old defender Ryan Astley as his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Merseyside club have offered the player a two-year deal to commit his future to the club.

Astley, who will miss the rest of the season through injury, has become a regular for the u-23s and is known to be one of David Unsworth's favourites.

When asked about the player's future at the club, Unsworth responded, "It's not my decision, it's what the player wants to do, it's how Carlo sees them, it's how Marcel sees them.

"We've all got to come together, and we do, we sit down and we have a plan for each individual player."

After his side's victory over Tottenham Hotspur in October, the u-23s boss was quick to single out Astley's performances on the day.

"Ryan Astley was our best player tonight," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"He was immense, not just defensively but so composed on the ball and he was a class apart."

One for the future

Offering a new contract to Astley is vital as he's not only rated by Unsworth, but also by Carlo Ancelotti and his national side.

The 19-year-old has been a part of Ancelotti's first-team training sessions on a few occasions this season and has waxed lyrical about the Italian's man-management style at the club.

He was also called up for the first time to the Wales u-21 squad last October.

It is clear to see that Astley has the potential to be a Premier League centre-back in the coming years.

His rise has been a long time coming. The Englishman made his u-23s debut at the tender age of 16 in 2018 and put in a "magnificent performance" in the Premier League 2 clash against Sunderland.

He also played a pivotal role in guiding the Toffees to a trophy double when they won the league as well as the Premier League cup in the 2018/19 campaign - beating Newcastle in the final at Goodison Park.

In other Everton news, Marcel Brands wants Carlo Ancelotti to play a bigger role in youth development at Everton