Beni Baningime has an uncertain future at Everton after falling down the pecking order and undergoing a disappointing loan spell, but the 21-year-old may have an opportunity of turning things around.
Baningime has two more years on his deal at Goodison Park and is believed to have impressed after returning to the U23s this season, so there’s a tiny chance he’ll escape the axe.
Despite competition from Andre Gomes, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Fabian Delph, Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies, a lot of supporters from Everton FC Group still want to see Baningime in Everton’s first-team next season as they believe he has great potential.
Jason King: “There is no doubt he has talent. Needs to find the same level of performance that got him his start under Unsworth when he was (caretaker) manager. Unsworth rates him highly….. Time will tell and the best judge is (Carlo Ancelotti).”
Michael Driscoll: “Don’t know why he hasn’t been given more games. Give the younger players a chance.”
Alan Wong: “Either give him a chance or loan/sell him.”
Joseph Larkin: “Give him the chance.”
Monty Everton: “Loan job. If he improves, scouts will see it. If not, sell.”
Geoff Wells: “Promote him back. He has class.”
David Plant: “Given the way some of our midfield players have performed this season, I thought he might (be) given his opportunity.”
Colin Broughton: Great player under Unsworth, (but) he’s not carried the form forward and couldn’t get into a Weak Wigan team.”
Darren Goodwin: “Watched him play. I would play him in front of Delph and Davies.”
David Bolger: “Very promising young talent. Should be a chance ahead of Davies.”
Paul Chambers: “Everton got to give Beni the chance to prove himself.”
Mark Simister: “From what I’ve seen of him, I thought he was OK and would improve.”
Johnny Robinson: “Promote him and loan Davies out or sell Delph.”
James Cruyff: “Needs a chance to improve.”
Marcus Best: “Sell Delph. Promote Beni.”
Shaun Ellis: “He’s better than Delph, that’s for sure.”
Kris Efc Sheehan: “I’d play him.”
Baningime progressed through the youth ranks to the Everton first-team in 2017 and has made 12 appearances in all competitions, the last of which came in April 2018 of the same year.
After falling out of favour while on loan at Wigan Athletic and subsequently returning to the reserve-team for the remainder of the season, the DR Congo midfielder had to rebuild his reputation on Merseyside.
However, if Baningime can’t steal playing time from Delph, Gomes, Gbamin, Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin or Davies, he’ll have to be sold.