Phil Kirkbride of Liverpool Echo says Ashley Williams will leave Everton at the end of the season. The 34-year-old has spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Stoke City and is out of contract at Goodison Park this summer. Williams fell down the pecking order at Everton after a lack of form and playing time and opted for a temporary move away to Stoke.
The Welsh international made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Potters, scoring and creating two goals. Williams has racked up 2502 minutes of Championship football, making 132 clearances, winning 60 aerial duels (54%), blocking 20 shots, averaging a tackle (32) or interception (64) every 26 minutes and averaging 40 passes-per-game with 80% accuracy.
Stoke are currently 16th in the Championship with 53 points from 44 games this season. Only Sheffield United (39), Middlesbrough (39), Leeds United (46) and Bristol City (49) have conceded fewer goals than the Potters. Williams has helped City pick up 11 clean sheets.
Marco Silva has preferred Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma and Phil Jagielka at centre-back over Williams, but the out-of-favour defender shouldn’t have trouble finding a new club this summer. He’s made 73 appearances for Everton since joining from Swansea City in 2016.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Opinion: Everton may have to pay £35m to sign centre-forward, player ‘keen on leaving’