Everton hope to tie Joe Anderson down to a new contract with a number of Football League clubs eyeing a summer swoop for the Goodison Park youngster, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
With Carlo Ancelotti at the helm and Marcel Brands taking a keen interest in Finch Farm, there’s a clear pathway to the Everton first team these days.
Tyler Onyango, Thierry Small and Joao Virginia all made their senior debuts in recent months, while Anthony Gordon and Jarrad Branthwaite featured in the Premier League before embarking on loan spells at Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.
So if Anderson does decide to stay put and sign a one-year contract extension, the Manchester-born defender should be confident an opportunity will come his way – eventually.
The Echo reports the 20-year-old, who can play at centre-half or left-back, has been training alongside the likes of James Rodriguez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and co with Ancelotti’s first team recently.
However, a number of as yet unnamed Football League sides are keen to snap up Anderson on a free transfer.
It remains to be seen whether Anderson has the patience to fight for his place at Everton, especially when EFL clubs can offer him the chance to play week in, week out at senior level.
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