Everton manager Marco Silva has revealed that Leighton Baines could be in line for a contract extension, with his current deal set to expire in the summer, per the Daily Star.
Baines has been a lifelong Everton supporter and moved to Goodison Park back in 2007 when he left Wigan for Merseyside in a £6million deal, including £1m’s worth of potential add-ons.
The 30-cap former England international is out of contract in the summer, however, which could spell the end to a magnificent career that saw Baines easily become the countries top left-back with a beautiful ability to score from set-pieces.
The full-back is no longer Everton’s first choice at left-back, either, as Lucas Digne has clutched to that honour since joining from Barcelona in the summer.
But, rather than seeing Baines leave in the summer, Silva has revealed in quotes reported by the Daily Star that the Kirkby-born ace could be offered another contract at Goodison Park.
“It is not just the 11 players coming more in the picture on the match day. A big club and strong squad is more than that,” Silva stated.
“I have no doubts Leighton is a big part of our squad. If he plays 10, 15, 20 games or if he plays five or 10, he is a really important player for me, for our club, for our dressing room.
“If he is in the last year of the contract, of course, it is a possibility for him to renew his contract also.”