Brendan Galloway hasn’t played a single minute of Premier League football for Everton this season, spending the majority of the campaign with the u23s. The 23-year-old has suffered from stiff competition for places in the first-team, with Lucas Digne and Leighton Baines competing for the left-back spot, but Baines’ departure this summer might open the door to Galloway to get more minutes.
The former England u21 international has made 21 appearances in all competitions since joining from MK Dons in 2014. He’s been loaned out to West Bromwich Albion (August 22, 2016 – April 9, 201) and Sunderland (July 5, 2017 – May 31, 2018) but struggled for appearances with both clubs. His future at Goodison Park is uncertain but keeping him could be a cost-effective temporary measure – not that Everton are short on money these days.
Galloway has been on the periphery all season, largely due to a hamstring injury, but he still has a year remaining on his deal and could refuse to leave this summer if he saw fit. Digne will continue being first-choice next season, but Baines’ expected departure this summer could force Everton to buy a backup in the transfer market. Keeping Galloway would saw the Toffees money this summer.
He’d be free to leave next year at the end of his contract, in which time the Blues would have identified a value-for-money signing to compete with Digne for a starting place at left-back. Whether Everton want to keep Galloway remains to be seen, however.