A few Everton fans have been sharing their delight on social media at reports by the Liverpool Echo, claiming Under 23s defender Morgan Feeney is set to join Tranmere Rovers on loan.
It is expected that the 20-year-old will spend the remainder of the season at Prenton Park where he will work under head coach Micky Mellon, as the Whites strive to secure their survival in the third-tier.
Tranmere drifted further away from safety earlier in the month when beaten at home by Ipswich Town, which has since seen Mellon’s men fall six points behind 20th-placed Milton Keynes Dons, albeit with three games in hand.
Feeney is highly rated by club figures at Goodison Park and will be expected to inject some added quality to a Rovers backline, which has thus far shipped the fourth-most goals in League One with 45 conceded to date.
The Bootle-born centre-back’s proposed move will be the first spell away from the Toffees of his career, having been a firm fixture of the club’s academy with 68 outings for the Under23s over the past four-and-a-half-years.
Does Feeney have a first-team future at Goodison Park?
Yes
No
Youth boss David Unsworth has often awarded Feeney the captain’s armband, and saw the 20-year-old centre-back notch his third U23s goal as we drew 1-1 with Southampton earlier in the month.
Unsworth also awarded Feeney his senior debut during his spell as interim first-team boss in 2017, though the youth prospect has not been awarded any senior minutes since Sam Allardyce fielded him in our 3-0 Europa League Group Stage win over Apollon Limassol.
Feeney is out of contract in the summer, though the Echo suspect negotiations over a new deal will be resumed at the close of his temporary spell with Tranmere.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted with joy to claims of Feeney being set to join Tranmere on loan, as Prenton Park will be a great location for his continued development…
Great move good luck
— Adam Jones (@Adam_EFC_1998) January 28, 2020
Very decent mate, u23 captain!
— Jamie (@jaykealy) January 28, 2020
Excellent loan. Just across the water. Help Rovers stay up. Good luck Morgan.
— Jeffrey hitchmough (@Jeffreyhitchmo1) January 28, 2020
They need him after the defending in the fa cup game on Sunday. And maybe they need a GK too.
— Dave The Pap (@DaveThePapLpool) January 28, 2020
Good move for him that
— 🚣♀️Joe (@efcjoe1) January 28, 2020
Great move for him. Glad he’s finally getting some first team action
— Ryan O’Hanlon (@RyanOHanlon1) January 28, 2020
In other Everton news, the club’s hesitancy could see Carlo Ancelotti miss out on signing a 41-cap midfielder this month.