Everton have finally revealed that Leighton Baines will be offered a new deal to stay at Goodison Park. The Toffees confirmed the news on Friday that Baines could be kept until 2020 which may come as a surprise to many. The 34-year-old looked on his way out earlier in the season after spending the campaign on the periphery, but he could now add to his 411 appearances in an Everton shirt.
Baines joined the Toffees from Wigan Athletic in 2007 and has been a regular at left-back for Everton ever since. He found himself on the periphery last season, however, after Lucas Digne was brought in from Barcelona. Baines racked up only 556 minutes of playing time in 2018/19 and was expected to leave this summer. Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams were released.
Marco Silva had a lot of backup options at left-back from Brendan Galloway, Matty Foulds, Luke Garbutt and Antonee Robinson, but he’s opted to keep Baines. The decision comes at the same time Digne has been linked with a move to Tottenham. Should the first-choice defender leave this summer, Baines would a better option to replace him than the trio waiting in the wings.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Official: Everton confirm departure of £70k-per-week man