Leighton Baines passes out instruction to a teammate
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Everton have offered a new one-year contract to seasoned left-back Leighton Baines, providing him with an opportunity to see out his career at Goodison Park. The 35-year-old was out of contract at the end of the season, but could now stay for another year at the club.
A product of the Wigan Athletic academy, Baines went on to make 153 appearances for the Latics, producing a return of 4 goals and 2 assists. In the summer of 2007, the Englishman made the jump to Everton, joining the Merseysiders in a £6m deal.
Till date, he has amassed a whopping 417 appearances for Everton. The 35-year-old has contributed 39 goals and 67 assists in the process.
Everton, meanwhile, have had a tumultuous 2019/20 campaign. Having started poorly under Marco Silva, the Toffees replaced him with Carlo Ancelotti as the new manager towards the end of the last year. Things improved for the club initially under the Italian tactician, but their form was once again on the downside prior to the suspension of the campaign.
Currently 12th in the league table, the Toffees need to strengthen their squad in the summer, while keeping their core group of players together. In that sense, extending Baines’ contract by another year makes complete sense for the club.
It is true that the 35-year-old has lost his place in the starting XI since the arrival of Lucas Digne from Barcelona in the summer of 2018. Indeed, he featured just eight times in the 2018/19 campaign, contributing with one assist. In the ongoing season, he has made just five appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal.
In spite of his reduced first-team involvement, Baines remains an important figure in the Everton team. The 35-year-old is the seniormost member of the current Toffees’ squad and is a leader on and off the field. Indeed, he has captained the side on a number of occasions when he has taken the field.
A veteran of over 400 Premier League appearances, this kind of experience makes him a valuable presence within the dressing room as well.
Furthermore, apart from Baines and Digne, Everton do not have any other options in the left-back slot. And with finances affected by the coronavirus, they may not be able to secure a new player for the position, given that there are a number of other areas in the squad that need to be strengthened. Hence, extending the veteran’s contract is the right call by the club.
Baines may not be a first-team regular at Everton anymore. But his experience and leadership make him a valuable squad member. And given that the Toffees don’t have options at left-back beyond him and Lucas Digne, handing him a new one-year deal seems like a smart decision by the club.
