Ellis Simms surely has one eye on Everton summer exit as transfer news emerges
Sunderland are monitoring Ellis Simms’ situation at Everton with the Toffees yet to make a decision on his situation and the academy product may well be planning an exit strategy.
Simms spent the first half of last season on loan at Sunderland before being recalled in January as the club needed to add goals to the squad, but he only managed just the one goal during his bit-part role in Everton’s quest for Premier League safety.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo (6 June), Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas admitted the club could allow him to leave the club permanently for “a couple million” as he enters the final 12 months of his deal to try and fund other deals.
It’s believed a striker is a priority for Sean Dyche during the summer window, which could leave a decision to be made on Simms’ immediate future at Goodison Park (The Northern Echo, 12 June).
It’s unlikely Simms will be a regular starter next season with Everton desperately on the prowl for a striker signing and that now could well be the time for the Toffees to “cash in”.
According to The Northern Echo, Sunderland are also closing in on the signing for Benfica’s young prodigy Luis Semedo, but boss Tony Mowbray is demanding two forwards for next season and it’s believed a loan move for Simms “ticks a lot of boxes”.
Given Simms’ recent successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light earlier in the campaign, he could very much be forgiven for seeking an exit route back to the Black Cats with his Everton first-team future looking rather bleak.
Dyche is planning to have two or three top-quality strikers at his disposal next season and it seems as though Simms isn’t in his long-term thinking, despite reports suggesting that the former Burnley is pondering over his future.
While Simms wasn’t given the best environment to really shine last year, when he was given an opportunity to shine he failed to really impress and it seemed quite clear that he isn’t at Premier League level right now.
At 22 years old sensation he has plenty of space to grow, and there is no better platform to make your mark and develop at a rapid rate as a striker than in the Championship. Simms certainly needs to consider his own long-term future and not wait for Dyche to make a decision.
Despite their failure in the playoffs in May, Sunderland still represents an attractive proposition for any young player willing to learn their trade and shine in the Championship. Simms already has knowledge of the league, and Mowbray’s expansive style at the Black Cats making a potential return there an absolute no-brainer for his development.
Given plans for Dyche to strengthen his options in attack, Simms surely has one eye on the Finch Farm exit door this summer. It’s his own immediate future and development in jeopardy if he doesn’t take the initiative this summer.