Ryan Astley Everton contract decision must be made soon
Everton youngster Ryan Astley has been performing well whilst out on loan at Accrington Stanley – and the Toffees could well have a contract decision to make soon.
Astley has played in 16 League One games for Stanley in what has been a superb first loan spell away from Goodison Park for the youngster. The move to Wham Stadium has turned out to be exactly what Astley and Everton were looking for.
He’s been given plenty of game time by John Coleman, which will see his development rapidly improve in the third tier. The decision now for Everton will be surrounding his contract at the club. Astley’s signed a two-year deal in 2021 until the summer of 2023 and now the club must decide if he is worthy of fresh terms.
Astley will undoubtedly be attracted attention from other League One and Championship teams. A 21-year-old who is performing well in the EFL rarely goes unnoticed.
It would be a crying shame for the youngster to leave Goodison Park for nothing should the club decide not to offer him new terms. At 21, there’s a chance he could go out on loan one more time in order to gain further first-team experience.
However, with Jarrad Branthwaite currently ahead of him in the pecking order and currently out on loan himself, it’s hard to see how he will get into contention.
Kevin Thelwell has been active of late in trying to get younger players tied down to new deals, with a number of the under-21s now committed to the club long-term.
Astley is certainly a player the club should be keeping a keener eye on after recent performances.