Sean Dyche shares Ashley Young verdict as Everton contract nears end
Everton manager Sean Dyche has implied that veteran full-back Ashley Young could play on for the club next season, as his current contract comes to an end this summer.
Young, who turns 39 in July, is one of six Everton players whose contracts will expire at the end of the current season, but Dyche has said that the Toffees are "open to all sorts of things", when it comes to new deals.
Everton have relied heavily on the experience of the veteran despite being by far the oldest player in their squad, and speaking to Liverpool World, Dyche didn't give too much away on Young's future with the club.
“We are open to all sorts of things at the moment with all sorts of players", he said. "There are varying situations and over the coming weeks, we'll be looking at what we can do.”
Ashley Young to sign new Everton contract?
Everton have undergone a transformative period of form in April, winning four games from five to move 11 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and confirm their safety in the process.
While the Toffees have a number of promising young players such as Jarrad Branthwaite, their older heads, such as Young, have also stood up to be counted during a crucial month in the club's history.
Idrissa Gueye is the best example of this, popping up to score crucial goals in the wins over both Nottingham Forest and Brentford, the latter of which saw Everton rubber-stamp their place in next season's Premier League.
Gueye and Young, alongside club captain Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli, Andre Gomes and Andy Lonergan are all currently in line to depart Goodison Park at the end of the campaign, but given their recent performances and praise from Dyche, it's hard to imagine the duo not being offered new contract by the Toffees.
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