Yannick Bolasie and Everton players react to Ellis Simms new contract
Yannick Bolasie has issued his reaction to the news that 20-year-old striker Ellis Simms has signed a new three-year deal at Everton.
Oldham-born Simms joined the Blues from Manchester City in 2017 and has since emerged as one of the club’s most exciting young talents.
He enjoyed a productive half-season spell on loan at Blackpool last season, scoring eight goals in 21 league games before injury curtailed his involvement in the League One play-offs, from which the Seasiders emerged victorious.
After a summer of rehabilitation, Rafa Benitez has welcomed the centre-forward back into the Blues fold and named him on the bench for Premier League games against Aston Villa and Norwich City in September.
Simms announced his new Blues contract via his personal Instagram profile on Tuesday afternoon, writing: “Happy to sign a new deal Everton, looking forward to what’s ahead.”
Bolasie, who left Everton in the summer, replied to his former teammate’s post, saying: “Congrats bro. Your time.”
Everton teenagers Lewis Dobbin and Tyler Onyango also joined in with the celebratory comments, both writing: “Congrats bro.”
Next step
Simms has long been touted as one to watch in the Everton academy, but it was not until earlier this year that the club entrusted another side to continue his development.
He scored countless goals at youth level for the Blues but there seemed to be a reluctance to allow him to taste senior football until management could find a suitable club for him.
They found that in Blackpool as ex-Liverpool youth team coach Neil Critchley took good care of him and gently introduced him to the rigours of senior football.
Simms was flying until injury curtailed his season, but he’s back fit now and raring to go, with Bolasie seemingly adamant that Simms has the capabilities to make an instant impact.
Whether he stays at Everton for the rest of the season or heads out on loan, however, remains to be seen.
Blackpool are surely set to reignite their interest in him and a Championship loan appears the likely next step but Benitez’s striker woes, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured and Salomon Rondon yet to strike, could see Simms stay on Merseyside for the rest of the campaign.
In other Everton news, Ian Wright made a big Blues ace prediction live on ITV on Monday night.
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