Leeds United will battle Middlesbrough and Hull City for highly-rated Everton prospect Matty Pennington.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman deserves praise for his willingness to give youth a chance at Goodison Park. Since the turn of the year Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin became important members of the first-team squad.
Therefore, it would be a surprise if Matthew Pennington, one of the most talented players in the club’s Premier League 2 winning reserve squad, would be let go this summer.
Yet, the Mirror (page 61, July 9) claim that there is plenty of interest in the 22-year-old with Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Hull City all keen to take him to the Championship.
Everton’s Matthew Pennington scored in the Merseyside derby with Liverpool last season
After Kyle Bartley returned to Swansea City upon the expiry of his loan spell, Leeds are a defender short and are yet to sign an alternative. As such, the decisive Giuseppe Bellusci, whose Elland Road career appeared over when he was loaned out to Empoli last season, may be given a lifeline having featured in the pre-season win against Harrogate Town.
Although there is a nagging feeling that Everton would be making a mistake letting Pennington go at this early stage of his career.
Three years of waiting
Pennington, who was first linked with a loan move to Leeds back in 2014, as reported by the Daily Mail, only started two Premier League games last season but his quality is not in question.
A technically gifted Rolls Royce of a centre-half described as ‘faultless’ last season by Everton academy coach David Unsworth, as reported by the Liverpool Echo, he has all the raw attributes to follow Davies and co into the first-team.
With Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams a combined age of 66, and Ramiro Funes Mori suffering from injuries, his youth and potential could come in handy despite the recent addition of Michael Keane, particularly with Europa League qualification meaning Everton’s squad will be stretched to its limits by a daunting fixture schedule.
Therefore, Everton could regret letting Pennington leave for Leeds this summer.
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