With a number of promising young players coming through the ranks at Everton, which three could benefit from a spell away on loan?
As the end of the season approaches, thoughts naturally begin to turn to the summer transfer window.
Everton brought in a number of new faces last summer, and added more in Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott in January. But with the squad still slightly unbalanced, Sam Allardyce, or whoever is in charge of the club next season, will have some thinking to do with regards to who to let go.
With a number of youngsters currently vying for a first-team place, which three individuals could benefit most from a loan spell away from Merseyside in the summer?
Nikola Vlasic
Nikola Vlasic, 20, joined Everton from Hajduk Split in 2017 after making 120 appearances for the club, an astonishing achievement for a teenager at the time. This season, the Croatian has made 15 appearances for the Toffees, including eight in the Premier League but, with Theo Walcott, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yannick Bolasie, to name a few, as his competition in the squad, the 20-year-old could undoubtedly do with six months away.
The wide man is highly rated in his native land and has already won a cap at full international level, and remains a decent capture for the Goodison Park club. However, should a top Championship side or perhaps even a newly promoted Premier League team come calling to take Vlasic on loan, the club should definitely consider it.
Mason Holgate
England under-21 international Mason Holgate has performed to a decent standard at times since his arrival from Barnsley in 2015, and has made 39 appearances for the club so far. However, at 21, the young centre-half could definitely benefit from a loan spell away, and the chance to develop his game as a regular starter.
Holgate is a huge talent and could be a big player for Everton and England in the future, but throwing a 21-year-old into the heart of defence can be risky, as has been proven on a few occasions this term. Having played a season in League One with Barnsley prior to joining Everton, Holgate could do with a season as a starting player for a Championship team to stand him in good stead for future Premier League seasons.
Antonee Robinson
English-born American left-back Antonee Robinson, 20, is currently being loaned out by Everton to Bolton Wanderers. The USA under-18 international has made 30 appearances for the club already, emerging as a crucial member of Phil Parkinson’s team despite only joining in January.
Having performed so well, with Leighton Baines still as Everton’s standout left-back, if Bolton wish to retain Robinson the Toffees should definitely consider it rather than block a new move; allowing the youngster to enjoy a full season of Championship football before returning to Goodison Park with eyes on making his debut and boosting the senior team.
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