According to The Athletic, Leighton Baines could stay at Everton this summer and is ‘swaying towards signing a new deal’.
The 35-year-old’s future at Goodison Park was uncertain as his contract is up in the coming months and he’s struggled for playing time since 2018, but Baines isn’t ready to end his 13-year association with Everton.
Baines joined the Toffees from Wigan Athletic in 2007 and has gone on to make 417 appearances in all competitions, scoring 39 goals and making 67 assists.
The England international lost his starting place when Lucas Digne joined from Barcelona in 2018, however, making only 14 appearances in the last two seasons, which is why his future has been up in the air.
Baines showed in a handful of appearances this season that he’s an able deputy to Digne, so Everton don’t need to push him out the door. The 35-year-old has no desire to leave either, so another year of Baines at Goodison would suit all parties. Fans are happy to keep him too.
It’s very likely that Baines’ eventual exit will coincide with his retirement from football, but the Toffees won’t have to cross that bridge for another 12 months now. Everton will no doubt be on the hunt for a long-term replacement.