Everton are working on securing the long-term future of their academy talent Ellis Simms after holding productive talks with the young striker, according to The Athletic.
Simms has just nine-months left on his current terms, but the Toffees are loath to see the forward leave. Club chiefs are hopeful the 20-year-old will soon agree to put pen to paper and end any lingering speculation.
The Merseyside outfit have made progress towards agreeing terms with the Oldham-born forward after holding productive talks. Director of Football Marcel Brands is also working on securing Lewis Dobbin’s future, with the 18-year-old likewise a free agent next June.
Brands is eager to avoid Everton seeing further rising stars leave Goodison Park for nothing but compensation for their development. The Toffees lost Thierry Small over the off-season to Southampton after failing to convince the full-back of his first-team pathway.
Everton have already expressed to Dobbin their desire for the forward to commit his future to the club. He made his senior debut as a late substitute against Norwich on Saturday and has regularly trained with the first-team.
Simms waiting for Everton breakthrough, despite contract talks
Simms is still waiting for his Everton breakthrough after seven appearances as an unused substitute. Rafa Benitez has left him on the sidelines in each of the Blues’ last two Premier League games. He also watched their Carabao Cup loss at QPR from the dugout last week.
Everton have been negotiating a new contract with Simms for some months to avoid him leaving as a free agent. The Liverpool Echo reported in June that Brands would present a new deal and discuss another loan if he signed.
The former Manchester City trainee spent the latter half of last season impressing with Blackpool in League One. He helped fire the Seasiders to the play-off final, but missed the 2-1 win over Lincoln after requiring groin surgery.
Simms scored 10 goals and two assists during his time at Bloomfield Road, adding to 17 goals with Everton’s U23s. He has since impressed Benitez in training on his path back to full fitness, showing the qualities Nigel Martyn admires.
“Ellis Simms, centre-forward. Natural goalscorer, still learning his craft, but he doesn’t snatch at chances,” Martyn exclusively told HITC last December. “He has all the attributes, he’s 6 ft 1, he’s got the attributes of a [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, for instance.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
