Leeds have got to re-sign Everton defender Luke Garbutt

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Sam Allardyce has said Luke Garbutt could leave Everton this summer.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has suggested that ostracised defender Luke Garbutt could leave Goodison Park this summer, and that should ring alarm bells at former club Leeds United.

The 24-year-old has failed to make a single appearance at Everton this season, with the likes of Cuco Martina and Leighton Baines remaining ahead of the England Under-21 international in the pecking order.

Now, Allardyce has been quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying that he believes Garbutt’s future – who moved to Everton from Leeds as a 16-year-old – is away from Goodison Park ahead of the summer window.

“He’s had a difficult time here and, personally, Luke Garbutt’s future is elsewhere,” Allardyce said, after Garbutt was even left out of Ronald Koeman’s 25-man Premier League squad at the start of the season.

Though Garbutt has two years remaining on his current deal – which the Daily Star claim is worth £27,500 a week – the former Leeds man is expected to leave and the Whites’ need of a left-sided defender should see them look to sign him.

Laurens De Bock has struggled since his move to Elland Road from Club Brugge, while Gaetano Berardi’s performances have been largely below par. Tom Pearce has impressed since coming into the side, but is still only 20.

A new left-back will surely be at the top of the agenda for Paul Heckingbottom in the summer and Garbutt’s knowledge of Leeds and what the club means to the fans will surely make him the perfect candidate.

The majority of Leeds fans agree on Twitter, with one fan even Tweeting owner Andrea Radrizzani directly, saying the Italian “could do worse” than bringing Garbutt home.