George Overhill

Wed 26 July 2023 12:10, UK

Lewis Warrington could be set to make a loan move to Plymouth Argyle after the club opened talks with Everton, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Football Transfers had reported on 4 July that the south coast club were interested in the Toffees midfielder, with another former Finch Farm graduate, Lewis Gibson, already having signed after rejecting a new contract on Merseyside.

Warrington, 20, spent last season on loan at Fleetwood Town in League One after making his debut against them in the Carabao Cup, and had a spell with Tranmere Rovers in League Two the campaign before.

He had appeared to be on the brink of a first-team role under Frank Lampard before he was allowed to depart at the end of the transfer window following his cup appearance.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Tom Davies’ exit has opened up a space in the first team that Warrington is once more under consideration for.

But Sean Dyche may decide that the homegrown youngster, who has featured in all three of the club’s preseason friendlies so far, is better served developing on loan.

Now or never?

Warrington’s contract is expiring next year so he looks to be at a crucial juncture, having signed a two-year extension last summer when it looked like he might be set to make a free transfer exit.

Everton seem to be shedding academy products like there’s no tomorrow lately, after Anthony Gordon’s glorious rise quickly turned sour and he was sold to Newcastle for £45million in January.

This summer they have already seen Davies, the youngest player to ever captain the side, turn down a new deal to seek more opportunities elsewhere, while the club took the money for Ellis Simms (Coventry City) and highly-rated full-back prospect Ishe Samuels-Smith (Chelsea).

Add to that Gibson’s own exit to Argyle and there looks to be the exact opposite of a pipeline of production from Finch Farm to the first-team.

But whether Warrington is ready to make an impact at Goodison Park this season is a decision that Dyche has to make now based on his performances in preseason, since, unless Amadou Onana is sold, there is high competition for places in midfield.

In light of the current transfer policy a permanent deal might be what the Toffees would prefer for him, and unless another contract extension is signed along with a loan he might then leave for free in a year’s time anyway.

In other Everton news, a key Toffees target appears to have confirmed his exit with a goodbye post on social media.