Everton have six players who will be out of contract at the end of this season, with some big decisions needing to be made over their futures.
David Moyes faced a similar situation last year, with a number of players leaving Everton as free agents over the summer.
The Toffees are heading into the summer in a much more positive position, with a lot still to play for in the remaining seven games.
Player Position Status
Jack Grealish Left Winger Loan (Man City)
Vitalii Mykolenko Left-Back Permanent
Tyrique George Left Winger Loan (Chelsea)
Michael Keane Centre-Back Permanent
Idrissa Gueye Defensive Midfield Permanent
Seamus Coleman Right-Back Permanent
Six Everton players are set to be out of contract on Merseyside in the coming months, and Everton News has looked at which individuals should be kept and who should be allowed to walk.
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Which out-of-contract players Everton should keep
Idrissa Gana Gueye
Some Everton fans had concerns over Idrissa Gana Gueye’s fitness after he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations back in January.
Those were valid concerns, with Moyes noticing improvements from Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye over the weeks following their returns.
Who should Everton be keeping and letting go this summer? đź«Ł
Jack Grealish in action for Everton
Credit: Getty Images/Visionhaus
He may be 36 years old, but the Senegal international is looking as good as he ever has alongside James Garner in the Everton midfield.
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Having been handed a one-year extension last summer, Gueye has played a hugely important role in Moyes’ midfield and would be an easy win for the board by keeping him around for another season.
Michael Keane
Similarly to Gueye, Michael Keane would mark another easy win for Everton’s board by keeping him around for another season.
Keane has admitted he wants to stay at Everton beyond his current deal having played a considerable role this season in the starting XI.
There will be a hope that a new right-back will be signed this summer, which would allow Jake O’Brien to return to the fold as an option in the centre.
That could push Keane back in the pecking order, but he has shown this season alone that he is more than worth a spot in the squad.
Jack Grealish
Although not strictly an Everton player, Jack Grealish will be set to return to Manchester City at the end of his loan stint this summer.
Everton will require fresh negotiations over Grealish’s future with City, given the Toffees are unlikely to activate his £50m buy clause.
What should Everton be willing to pay to bring back Grealish over the summer? đź’°
Jack Grealish of Everton reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United. Jack Grealish of Everton looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Credit: Getty Images/Alex Livesey/Matt McNulty
The Toffees have largely managed Grealish’s absence through injury, but he is a player who could add a lot to the squad if Everton are to land European qualification this season.
On top of his return of six assists and two goals, the Englishman has bags of experience playing at the very top level.
Grealish has continued to support his teammates from home as he has clearly bedded himself into the squad at Finch Farm since joining over the summer.
Which out-of-contract players Everton should let walk
Seamus Coleman
What lies next for Seamus Coleman remains to be seen, but it looks less and less likely that he could play a role in Everton’s squad.
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Seamus Coleman's Everton stats as he enters the final months of his contract.
Credit: Getty Images/Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto.
However, this is not to say that the Everton hero should be allowed to leave the club.
Coleman has earned his coaching badges whilst at Everton and could be brought into the club’s coaching system just like Leighton Baines was.
Moyes has made no secret over just how highly he rates Coleman’s presence at Finch Farm, but his playing days at Everton may be at an end.
Vitalii Mykolenko
This may be a controversial one given Vitalii Mykolenko has established himself as a serviceable option for Everton over the years.
Moyes recently played Jarrad Branthwaite over Mykolenko at left-back, which may have appeared as a damning statement on the Ukraine international’s future.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s contract expires in the summer, what should Everton do with him? 🤔
Offer him a new deal? Let him go for free? Sell him in January?
Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and Everton
Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington
Having returned just one assist this season, Everton need a left-back who is capable of providing more in the attacking side of the game.
There would be no harm in keeping Mykolenko, but it feels unlikely that he would be willing to stay as the second choice left-back if Everton were to sign another this summer.
Tyrique George
Speaking of damning indictments, Tyrique George’s time on Merseyside is yet to get off the ground.
After being signed in January on loan following Grealish’s injury blow, George has failed to make an impact in a similar fashion to Tyler Dibling.
George has played just 104 minutes of football since joining Everton.
There is simply not enough evidence in an Everton shirt for the Blues to make his signing permanent this summer.
Note: Merlin Rohl’s loan is expected to become an obligation to buy if conditions are met
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