Everton reportedly expecting to keep James McCarthy this month

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Everton midfielder James McCarthy was reportedly close to a move elsewhere.

According to a report from Sky Sports’ live transfer blog (31/1; 12:02), Everton midfielder James McCarthy looks set to stay at Goodison Park beyond the January transfer window despite reports suggesting that he could join a Premier League rival.

McCarthy is back fit, but is yet to feature for the Toffees’ first-team since sustaining that horrific leg break during their clash with West Brom last season.

The Irish Independent reported earlier in the day that he was set to join Crystal Palace ahead of the likes of Celtic and West Brom, who were both interested in the 28-year-old who earns £50,000-a-week.

However, it appears that Palace are about to miss out on signing the Republic of Ireland international. Sky Sports report on their transfer feed (31/1; 12:02) that McCarthy is set to still be at Everton once the deadline passes.

McCarthy will now be hoping that he can force his way into Marco Silva’s plans before the end of the campaign. It is not going to be an easy task with the amount of quality that Everton have in the middle of the park.

Should he prove unable to get back into the fold, then you would imagine that those clubs that are set to miss out on him this time around may look to try their luck once again when the window reopens in the summer.