Everton in talks with Lewis Warrington over new contract
Everton are in talks with highly-rated teenager Lewis Warrington over a new contract, reports The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland.
The midfielder is currently on loan at Tranmere and is out of contract in the summer but has been tipped as a long-term option to address the lack of a number six in the first team squad.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin has left on loan and his future at Goodison is unclear, while most of the other central options are seen as more attack-minded, with Allan the closest to a real holder.
Boyland writes in the latest Everton mailbag in The Athletic, responding to a question about Tyler Onyango: “The best bet in the under-23 ranks for that position is Lewis Warrington, who is on loan at Tranmere Rovers of League Two.
“League One side Fleetwood Town had also tracked him with a view to a January loan but didn’t have the wiggle room.
“Everton are talking to Warrington about a new contract because his current one expires at the end of the season.
“He has made a lot of progress this season, has decent passing range and is strong in the tackle.”
Problem position
The spot next to Brazilian Allan has become a key focus in the Toffees’ fortunes.
When the former Napoli man was booked in the Southampton defeat Frank Lampard was forced to replace him with Andre Gomes who was subsequently credited with “costing his team the game” by a local radio commentator, via Paul Brown on Twitter.
Donny van de Beek put in a fantastic display alongside Allan in the win over Leeds but neither he, Dele Alli, or Abdoulaye Doucoure are well-suited to step in and cover for him.
The Ivorian Gbamin has endured a nightmare stay on Merseyside and has just moved to CSKA Moscow hoping to revive his career.
19-year-old Warrington was praised by Carlo Ancelotti after training with the first team less than a year ago when he said, via Liverpool Echo: “I think that we have a good academy, not only Lewis but there are players training with us a lot of times.”
But it seems unlikely that the club will be pinning their hopes on a youngster currently playing in the fourth tier.
Boyland expects midfield to be a transfer priority in the summer, with Fabian Delph out of contract and van de Beek’s loan over, and recent weeks have shown why.
In other Everton news, the recently departed loanee has shared which teammate helped him with the move.