Everton ‘hopeful’ Lewis Gibson will sign new deal this week
Everton are very hopeful that academy defender Lewis Gibson is going to sign a new contract at Finch Farm this week, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The 21-year-old was sent out on loan during the 2021-22 season where he struggled to break into the Sheffield Wednesday side in League One, making just five appearances.
He did have better success at Reading in the Championship the season before, playing 13 times for the Royals, but he is yet to make his debut for the Toffees and he currently isn’t contracted to the club.
His previous deal expired on 30 June and he has not yet penned an extension but Everton are confident that he will remain one of their players for this season and perhaps beyond.
As a result of his current free agent status, Gibson could not be included in Frank Lampard’s squad to travel to the United States for a host of friendlies across the pond.
Big step
Gibson will be more aware than anyone else at the club that he needs to pick up his performances in a big way before he can consider himself in with a chance of playing for the first team.
Being a backup at Hillsborough is not good enough for Lampard to take note and think ‘he’s good enough’ when he has just gone and signed James Tarkowski in that exact position.
That’s not to mention Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane who are already in his way of a senior appearance as well as Jarrad Branthwaite who seems likely to leave on loan this summer to PSV Eindhoven [Ryan Taylor].
If he signs a new deal at Goodison Park, then he must make a much bigger step in his development than he has shown so far because the Premier League does not wait for anybody who isn’t among the very best.