Reports: Baines to sign new two-year deal at Everton

He's become more vocal in the past year, more of a leader on the pitch, and that's all to the good. As with any 32-year-old player, health is the paramount concern, but as long as he can avoid further injury issues he'll be a quality contributor. And I've no doubt he'll be an outstanding mentor to whoever his successor turns out to be (Galloway? Foulds? Robinson?).

Can't imagine him playing in another shirt. Glad he's staying.

Saying he's back to his best, why? Because he put in a good cross against Arsenal? That's like saying Williams is back to his best because he scored against the gunners.

Jagileka and Williams have both been dragged out of position to cover for Baines and his struggles to get back in defence. Get rid while we may have a chance of a few million for him.

How the hell are the young lads going to get a game if we persist in dishing out contracts for old times sake?

It is no wonder our squad average age is getting older and older!

Is Duncan still registered with the PFA? He could save us putting in a bid for an attacking partner for Lukaku.

Maybe Jags would like a two year extension as well? Just a thought like.

Its a good job Everton have got money to throw away, too much sentiment in Goodison Park.

And if you "get rid" now as Paul Kossoff says, who gets the left-back job on a silver platter? Call Galloway home from his place on the end of the WBA bench, scrape off his cobwebs and throw him on? Promote one of Unsworth's teenagers? Maybe call back Hopeless Garbutt, who can't get a game at Wigan after failing last year at Fulham?

Bainesy and Oviedo suit me just fine, thank you. The kids will have their chance. If they deserve it.

It is unreal here, you'd think Everton is the only club that has young players. Every Premier League team has young players, very few play or make it.

All top teams keep their best players, even when 'in decline' (I.e. Ageing). Barca and Xavi, Puyol. Man Utd with Giggs, Scholes. Chelsea with Terry.

For us, Baines is as close as were gonna get to any of the above, by far our best player for almost a decade.

Yet some want to 'get rid'.

All teams need experienced professionals on the pitch, in the changing room on an the training ground. Players like Baines, with his natural class, could still offer great things to Everton if used correctly.

Play him less, he'd be a great sub to bring on when wanting a bit of experience near the end of he game when younger lads often tire, lose concentration. Play him mainly against the big teams where experience counts. Play him and sub him for a younger road when the game is sowed up.

But get rid? Nah.

And comparing Gibson to Baines. No words

As his contract expires this summer you will not get a transfer fee for him. I don't think two years is too much of a gamble for a player who has been one of our best.

Loyalty is a two way street, remember he turned down a move three years ago when I'm sure there was more money on the table to follow Moyes.

He had for the first time in his career a serious injury. I'm not sure he will ever get back to his best but remember his best was being the best full back in Europe and the best full back at our club since Ray Wilson. I'm sure we need to retain a player of his quality even if that means he is phased out of the team during that two year period.

So for me, in the current circumstances, a two-year contract makes sense.

A proper Evertonian with his head screwed on. That'll do for me.

For those who'd prefer to have him put down in favour of the kids, who exactly? Garbutt? Setting the championship on fire is he? Galloway? A centre back who was used as an emergency left-back. Oviedo? Great guy but more injury prone than Gibson. Get real.

Honestly think Baines, is still one of our best players, and not because he put in a great cross the other night. His energy levels are only bettered by Gueye and maybe only equalled by both McCarthy and Coleman. If he's caught out of position defensively then it's usually because he doesn't have anyone playing outside of him.

Don't think he always gets close enough to his opponent defensively to stop the cross, but he never really has since he's played for us, but I still don't think that there are many better fullbacks in the league, so this contract makes loads of sense to me.

Made up with Holgate signing as well, he will be class in a few years I reckon.

There have been clear signs that Leighton – a near ever-present for so long – is more injury prone these days, and – not unreasonably, as age and sheer body fatigue creeps up on him – not performing to the consistent mega-levels we associate with him.

His contract is extended a further 3 years to 2019 when he will be 35. To add to that, the already 35 year old Gareth Barry has ALSO been given a contract extension to June 2018 when he will be 37. For Barry, read and apply what I already commented on about left-back.

Take the Arse, by contrast, who seemingly only offer single year contract extensions on any player over 30. Isn't that a more prudent contract policy than the possibly over generous one Everton has commonly granted to long serving over-30s for quite some years now?

On happier contract extension news, Holgate has signed a 5-year extension to his.

It made me sick that Chelsea wouldn't extend the contracts of players like Drogba and Lampard despite what they had given to the club over the numerous seasons. We don't have to be like them, we can have class and reach our lofty ambitions too.

Who else would you honestly rather have there than Leighton anyway!!

Holgate is destined to be a great player if he continues to develop the way he has since joining us in August 2015.

As an aside, Baines might be the best fullback we've had since Ray Wilson, unless you forget about Pat van den Hauwe. He was the dog's chunks in my opinion!

With Barry, I'm not so sure two years was the right deal for him. I expect him to be a squad player next season. Making the odd cameo appearance for 10 to 15 mins.

Holgate is a great move. Think he'll go on to be better for us than Stones was.

They are the opposite to this new breed of social media mad players who want to be like famous rap stars not top pro footballers!

I really hope Koeman focuses his recruitment policy on these types of characters!

We have better options at left-back. Galloway consistently played well at the beginning of last season and is without doubt faster and a better defender. I would like to see Antonee Robinson get an opportunity... super quick, tenacious in defence, imposing going forward... go and watch the lad and see for yourselves.

Bainesy has plenty of good football left in him yet and is a top professional.

For me locking Holgate down is sensible, I'd hope he breaks into the first team for good very soon.

Barry is an interesting one. If the emphasis is on him starting or finishing a game, being pick specifically for games he can handle it might be a good call. I'm hoping it has a coaching element in it and we squeeze every last drop out of his experience.

Using him sparingly might see an upturn in his longevity. But to most viewers eyes he has looked a fading force physically. Not for me though.

Now Baines is the one most likely to cause a problem. Skillful, one of the best passers in the team. But clearly ailing physically, an injury record in the last 18 months which would make me lean towards not renewing. This would be in the spirit of Everton as club being ambitious.

Does Leighton get extra consideration because he gets the club? I wonder how much this is all wrapped up in the decision?

But I ask you this, when you heard the news did your gut go WTF or respond with a get in?

On balance the lack of a decent replacement tips me towards an extension.

My bet is Leighton gets the winner drom the spot Monday.

No obvious replacement already at the team, as Oviedo is a crock, Garbutt not good enough and Galloway not playing for WBA right now; also he started well last season but his play fell off so not sure about him.

Holgate, great signing. Barry, an odd one. Again, reduced contact terms I guess as probably one of our higher earners.

Paul K: stay classy!

Well done, Everton!

I believe he can keep up the level he is getting back to if he takes good care of himself and he can help start building this new Moshiri era with his blue spirit. COYB.

For and against for Baines, he's not been his best for a while, but I think with Kenwright still here, the cheaper option prevails with keeping players who should be replaced.

Now put yourself in Leighton's position, as pointed out he turned down a lucrative move, then new players who come in are possibly on 50% higher wages after you've shown that loyalty. The lad deserves his contract, he also deserves to be on a similar wage as any of the first-team high earners. It's a new dawn at Everton with new, rich owners and TV revenues pushing wages up every season.

Happy for the lad... I would also keep him in the squad for penalty taking ability alone.

A top Blue with a few more seasons with us is lovely.

There is no doubt that he has been a class act for years now and if he can stay fit he still has a lot to offer- we need to shed some of the old brigade but we must keep one or two and Baines is the best of that group by some way.

Put the right player ahead of him (he's not currently at the club whoever he may be) and I would think his performance level will improve as he really misses Pienaar.

Erm... on the other side of the coin, there is player power, pushy agents, massively increased TV bonanza budgets, ever increasing weekly wages... etc, etc.

And you really believe senior players, who've been at this malarkey a fair while, and seen the money side of things go in one and only one direction – they're gonna say "Yea, pay me less... no problem. As long as it makes you play me more, I'm fine with taking a few grand off the table. No problem. Just glad to still be earning my crust..."

Reduced contract terms??? You're havin' a laff!!!!

When RM re-signed him, I'd imagine it was an extension on existing terms. Now though, he's getting a 12-month addition at an advanced age, with demand for his services limited. He's trading additional playing time for a reduction in wages.

Probably the case with Baines too, though likely not a big wage drop. Not everyone wants to chase the money to China or the USA. Of course, it being us it's entirely possible we've actually bumped their wages!

If Oviedo had any sort of luck, Baines would be nowhere near the starting eleven, but, alas, Oviedo is jinxed. I'm hoping a new deal being mooted is designed to get Moyes interested in bidding in January.

Yes, he's still the wisest player we have and still the best passer... the swerving lob to Rom was gorgeous... but I don't think he'll be able to keep his place if Schneiderlin comes in.

Please name one "younger/hungrier" player he's holding back. Galloway or Garbutt, collecting bench splinters elsewhere? A couple of Unsi's kids? No way, nohow. And nobody plays hungrier than Baines. Always totally committed.

And if you really think that Koeman listens to "fan pressure" when deciding who takes the set-pieces, I'll just say that I hope it's a nice day on whatever planet you're orbiting.

Sometimes you can only laugh as Mike says.

Baines has taken three penalties since his injury last season. Two goals vs Norwich and Man Utd and one miss vs Stoke which did end up in the net.

Oviedo over Baines?

To quote Danny Dyer, you're having a giraffe.

And keeping Baines is the RIGHT thing to do.

As for comparing Baines with drunk driver sick note Gibson, I despair!