Season › 2022-23 › News Limited opportunities may see Ruben Vinagre's loan cut short Michael Kenrick 24/12/2022 21comments | Jump to last Another player who faces an uncertain future as the New Year approaches is Ruben Vinagre, Everton's second loanee from Wolves, via Sporting. The left-back has seen very limited opportunities on the field under Frank Lampard, with just two sub appearances and no place in the starting line-up for any of the 15 Premier League games since he joined the club on a temporary basis in September. Vinagre signed on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon but could see this cut short in January due to a lack of regular football as he failed to make an impact. In addition to those rare Premier League appearances, the Portuguese left-back played in both of Everton's Carabao Cup games, including the pitiful performance that saw the club dumped out of the competition at Bournemouth last month. Article continues below video content With Vitalii Mykolenko cementing his place at left-back in the starting line-up for all Premier League matches until the break, he appears unlikely to get much playing time, although he provides some insurance cover in the event of injury, and thus a continuation of the loan arrangement may be prudent to provide important depth in the first-team squad. Countering that argument, however, is the ominous fact that Vinagre was not even on the bench for the last four Premier League games, with those two sub appearances both coming back in August. The loan deal with Sporting includes an option for Everton to buy Vinagre for €20m at the end of the season but it seems unlikely the club will trigger that clause with the possibility that the 23-year-old will be looking for a new club next month. Reader Comments (21) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Kieran Kinsella 1 Posted 24/12/2022 at 03:51:25 I was wondering whatever had happened to that Vinegar bloke? Steve Brown 2 Posted 24/12/2022 at 04:39:42 Kieran, I heard he has been great in training as well.His nickname is Sultan Vinegar…I'll just get my coat. Derek Knox 3 Posted 24/12/2022 at 08:51:00 Kieran, "Whatever happened to that Vinegar bloke?"I'm afraid it all went sour for him, after he was caught drinking a few 'malts'. We never really have had the chance to see if he is aceticly pleasing! :-) Sorry mate best I could think of on the spur. Tony Abrahams 4 Posted 24/12/2022 at 10:31:09 He obviously hasn't impressed, which is frustrating, because I personally think we need a good left wingback. Tony Everan 5 Posted 24/12/2022 at 10:47:47 Ok, he hasn’t had the best of Sarsons, but I think it’s unfair to rub salt into his wounds with silly puns. Pat Kelly 6 Posted 24/12/2022 at 11:09:03 Like Garner, another signing Lampard never started in the Premier League. At least we can return Vinagre... I hope he's not bitter. Richard Lyons 7 Posted 24/12/2022 at 11:30:39 If he's worth his salt, it could be the sherry on the cake for him... Brian Cleveland 8 Posted 24/12/2022 at 11:49:58 Tony (5)You missed a trick... Wouldn't it be ruben salt in his wounds? 😉 Duncan McDine 9 Posted 24/12/2022 at 11:52:25 Please note that comments on this thread not containing a pun will be removed, but anyone assalting Vinagre will be reprimanded. Danny O’Neill 10 Posted 24/12/2022 at 12:10:38 I don't think we've seen enough of him to make judgement.I certainly haven't but guess the management team may have on the training ground?I agree. Depending on how the manager wants to set up, a wingback could be part of that system. Move Mykolenko and maybe even a fit Godfrey into a back free with Tarkowski at the centre of it.But then, from what I've seen, Tarkowski is more comfortable in the centre of a back 4. Sign that Croation Gvardiol.I haven't even had a Christmas drink yet. Ray Roche 11 Posted 24/12/2022 at 12:41:26 From the little that I saw of him he appears quick and could cross a ball. Criminal that he’s not been given a chance. Peter Norris 12 Posted 24/12/2022 at 14:21:12 Thought with an opportunity he would have chipped in with a few assists. Ian Bennett 13 Posted 24/12/2022 at 14:38:41 £20M – is that a typo? Robert Tressell 14 Posted 24/12/2022 at 14:56:49 We shouldnt need to pay more than a few million for competition for our LB spot. £20m option to buy. What a joke. Michael Kenrick 15 Posted 24/12/2022 at 15:16:10 Ian @13, It does seem a lot but here is the quote from our wonderful Echo:"The loan is said to include an option to buy Vinagre for €20M in the summer. But the report from Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via, SportWitness ) states that Everton are 'hardly' likely to trigger that clause – and that there is a 'possibility' the 23-year-old will look for a new club next month."Having activated a €10M clause themselves to sign the defender from Wolves in July of this year, Sporting look to have made a decision to try and turn a quick profit by offering him to clubs willing to pay more. With the Blues seemingly unlikely willing to activate their clause for double that amount, the Portuguese side could look to recall their player before finding an alternative suitor."It follows the standard rule of market forces when it comes to our club: You must pay a lot to get players to come to Everton but, when they leave, you won't get much for them. Joe McMahon 17 Posted 24/12/2022 at 15:47:26 Disappointed, I wanted to see more of him, like Anwar El Ghazi on loan last season. They seriously cannot be any worse than the majority of the crap that gets selected most weeks. Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies for the rest of the season isn't gonna worry any teams. Jim Bennings 18 Posted 25/12/2022 at 12:41:48 Massive concern the way we sign so many players but never ever use them yet we are happy to stick with the players that have actually contributed to the mess we are in.The question wants asking:"Who is signing these players to begin with?" Bill Gienapp 19 Posted 25/12/2022 at 19:17:39 I mean, he's basically here to provide cover for Mykolenko, so it's not surprising that opportunities have been limited... though the fact Lampard's taken to dropping him from the bench altogether suggests he doesn't particularly rate him. If he'd sooner turn to Godfrey or whoever, then the loan really does begin to feel pointless (still feels like he'd be a decent wingback option in a back five though). Mike Dolan 20 Posted 25/12/2022 at 19:46:52 Letting Vinagre go is not surprising really. Godfrey is back and he is the back-up in that position. It's been a successful loan if he was brought in as insurance for Mykolenko.I just wish we had been so efficient covering the No 9 hole. Shane Corcoran 21 Posted 25/12/2022 at 22:50:05 Another reason this may be true is to free up another loan spot for next month Justin Doone 22 Posted 02/01/2023 at 22:31:51 I'll admit to being a little surprised that he's not had more game time in what has proved to be a poor season to date. I certainly think he would offer a more attacking threat when we have failed to create. Thankfully a loan and not a more costly mistake. 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