Nathangelo Markelo has an uncertain future at Everton as he’s yet to make an appearance at senior level for the Toffees and is out of contract this summer.
The 21-year-old has been stuck playing in Everton’s reserves for the last three years and looks unlikely to make the step-up to the first-team due to stiff competition at right-back.
As per the Liverpool Echo, Markelo’s future ‘remains unclear’, but Everton have to make a decision on his contract by June 23 otherwise he’ll be released on a free transfer.
As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Everton can either offer their out-of-contract player a new deal, extend their contract until the end of the revised 2019/20 season or not hand them an extension at all.
Markelo joined the Blues from Volendam in 2017 and has gone on to make 59 appearances for the U23s. He’s currently behind Seamus Coleman, Djibril Sidibe and Jonjoe Kenny in the pecking order, so Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t need him next season.
Everton are in the market for a new right-back if they opt against signing Sidibe permanently, having been linked with Norwich City’s Max Aarons, Olympique Lyonnais’ Bouna Sarr and Atletico Madrid’s Santiago Arias among others, so Markelo would be very fortunate to be retained.