Season › 2018-19 › News
Reports: Blues waiting on Baines decision

A number of media reports suggest that Marco Silva would, ideally, like to keep the veteran as a valuable backup to Lucas Digne as he was during the season just gone.
Baines deputised for the Frenchman earlier this year when Digne was sidelined either through suspension or injury but the 34-year-old made just five Premier League starts.
That could prompt him to seek an opportunity to see his contract out elsewhere and while speculation that he could make a move to Rangers has been quashed by sources north of the Border, Baines has been linked in the past the a move to Major League Soccer.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Silva would be comfortable promoting Antonee Robinson to the first-team squad should Baines elect not to sign a new one-year deal.
The USA international spent last season on loan at Wigan Athletic and could be ready to use that experience to press his claims at Premier League level.
Baines has spent 12 years at Goodison Park following a £6m move from Wigan and is in a similar situation to Phil Jagielka in that his current contract is up this summer.
Everton are expected to publish their list of retained players this Friday which will reveal which of the current squad have been deemed to be surplus to requirements.
One of those expected to be released is Ashley Williams who spent last season on loan at Stoke City and whose three-year deal is now up.
Reader Comments (44)
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2 Posted 04/06/2019 at 06:15:51
3 Posted 04/06/2019 at 07:09:20
We will never blood youth if we have too many hangers on.
I LIKED Baines but he has ad his time, we need to be more ruthless.
4 Posted 04/06/2019 at 07:54:03
Baines is up to the job for another season and Robinson might prove not to be then we have to fund a replacement.
Hopefully he signs on because he's the best back up left back we have and perhaps he needs to be offered the cup games or some other assurance about his chances to participate.
5 Posted 04/06/2019 at 08:10:24
6 Posted 04/06/2019 at 08:16:03
7 Posted 04/06/2019 at 08:25:59
On the other flank, I am puzzled by the apparent attitude towards Kenny. Seamus has, happily, reestablished himself, and Kenny remains a more than competent deputy. Why spend a fortune on a replacement who is unlikely to play. The money is better spent elsewhere.
8 Posted 04/06/2019 at 10:04:16
We have Antonee Robinson who will gain more from a season shadowing and 'challenging' Digne than playing in theChampionship
9 Posted 04/06/2019 at 10:10:53
He has scored some absolute crackers over the years! Particularly 2 away at West Ham!
10 Posted 04/06/2019 at 10:26:53
11 Posted 04/06/2019 at 11:28:57
Looking at it from his perspective, he will be a long time retired. He can definitely play in the Prem regularly for one more season, so if he desperately wants to play then he's best getting off.
It all depends what he gets offered. Would a relegation scrap hold much appeal at 34? If he went to Scotland he could do another 2 or 3 seasons, if that troublesome ankle holds up. Depends where his desire is at and what he wants.
12 Posted 04/06/2019 at 11:39:12
Digne has had a very good season, but one of Silva's biggest mistakes was not rotating him with Baines at times last season, so hopefully our manager will have a lot more knowledge about managing in England, now he's managed a team for a full season?
Baines has still got something to offer, so if he stays, I can only hope that Silva has told him he's going to get more football next season.
13 Posted 04/06/2019 at 11:50:35
Some superb dead balls Toon away, West Ham, great deliveries into this he box when him and Peanuts took he mick..
Great memories. I've a hunch he'll go elsewhere and get regular game time, and maybe pick up a medal in Scotland.
14 Posted 04/06/2019 at 12:07:24
15 Posted 04/06/2019 at 12:23:04
I have a hunch he will maybe play in the States for a year or two as he's apparently a huge fan of L.A so could see him ending up playing there until his late thirties.
For some reason I just can't vision seeing Bainesy in another British team shirt other than ours now.
16 Posted 04/06/2019 at 16:49:57
Hopefully he will sign a 1 year extension and get a cup winners medal next season.
I think we should treat him with the same respect he has shown the club and the fans over the years.
Unlike Rooney he could have gone to Man U but decided to stay loyal.
17 Posted 04/06/2019 at 16:58:20
18 Posted 04/06/2019 at 17:06:06
19 Posted 04/06/2019 at 17:19:52
20 Posted 04/06/2019 at 17:59:46
He's got enough in the bank so up to him if he wants to warm the bench or experience something new elsewhere. Last throw of the dice for him playing wise.
Main focus for us should be a CH and striker for the summer. And selling Tosun.
21 Posted 04/06/2019 at 18:10:29
I'm delighted with the report that Silva considers Robinson ready to step up. He's had close to 60 games in the Championship over the past two years, and by all accounts he had a fine season at Wigan despite missing about 20 games with the injury. He turns 22 this summer and this would be a great time for him to break through with the first team.
22 Posted 04/06/2019 at 18:42:58
23 Posted 04/06/2019 at 19:20:42
24 Posted 04/06/2019 at 21:46:30
However, I'd be best pleased if he led a group of fringe players in bolstering one of our Cup campaigns all the way to Wembley.
25 Posted 04/06/2019 at 23:59:13
Best offensive full back in the world for me (at his best). Simply unbelievable crosses
Unfortunately not excellent at the defensive side and didn't stop crosses often enough - we conceded a few from his side
But I love the guy - awesome skill. Top top player and should have nailed that England shirt. Was it lack of confidence?
Thanks Leighton
26 Posted 05/06/2019 at 06:57:14
But, moving forwards, we should only be retaining older players who really are still good enough for the first team.
27 Posted 05/06/2019 at 12:21:44
With the mandate to cut roster/salaries, can't imagine Baines being offered anything remotely close to his current wages. I certainly hope not.
As pointed out above, Robinson is back healthy and been out learning his trade for 2 seasons. On low wages.
Besides, we already have a veteran with one year left at low wages who proved a solid deputy at LB in Martina.
28 Posted 05/06/2019 at 18:17:42
However, it is my understanding that he has a contract which guarantees that he will be paid equal to the highest earning player at Goodison.
On that basis alone, would the club not be better to recruit a younger quality replacement rather than hope that Baines will be able to cope with the speed of the Premier League for another season ?
Incidentally, which idiot at Everton decided that someone else should take penalties for EFC when Baines was playing when he is arguably the best penalty-taker and free-kick specialist we have had.
29 Posted 05/06/2019 at 18:30:24
30 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:10:21
31 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:24:08
32 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:29:10
Not tracking back much. Playing really advanced up the pitch.
Doesn't look awful, but a bit disinterested. It is a friendly.
33 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:31:22
34 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:57:10
He has had some nice passes and a couple of accurate early crosses, but the kid's touch is just awful. I give him credit for trying to beat people off the dribble, but he sure as hell needs to work on that dribble. He can't keep the ball in traffic, probably because he's not used to receiving it with his back to the defender. Usually he's rocketing up the touchline with everything in front of him.
35 Posted 06/06/2019 at 00:59:14
36 Posted 06/06/2019 at 01:29:34
This US side really sucks, however.
37 Posted 06/06/2019 at 02:15:53
You're correct, I was being purposely harsh.
I'm down on USA Soccer. Not because of the failure to qualify for Russia. It's:
- the acceptance of an obscene pay-to-play culture
- the corruption all over the landscape, even at youth level
- the only metric seemingly they care about is the bank balance
- a ridiculous nepotistic culture
- a sad lack of ignoring a massive swath of US kids in lower economic situations
I want our USMNT to win. It's a passion of mine and I know you're aware of that. I simply wish there were some major changes made inside our system.
The English FA has nothing on our USA Federation. We're a joke, and a crooked one at that.
[BRZ]
38 Posted 06/06/2019 at 02:28:34
Any hows, at halftime Brazil are 2-0 to the good thanks to our boy. Headed the first, picked out Jesus a treat for the City man to score the second.
Best player on the park. Expect Brazilian commentators to lobby he should move to a 'big club' if he has a good tournament.
Also, Neymar went off after just 10 minutes with his ankle wrapped in ice. What with the rape charge he's had a grand few days.
39 Posted 06/06/2019 at 03:54:36
Jay, thanks for the report.
40 Posted 06/06/2019 at 12:02:48
We're not a retirement home, he's already a multi-millionaire.
Sentimentality will kill us.
42 Posted 07/06/2019 at 14:01:20
43 Posted 07/06/2019 at 14:15:59
I have just been on the BBC website and they are saying Williams has been released and Baines has been offered a 1 year extension. Also all reports from local journalists is that he will indeed sign a new 12 month contract.
44 Posted 11/06/2019 at 13:57:34
45 Posted 11/06/2019 at 17:34:57
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1 Posted 04/06/2019 at 06:14:54
He's been a brilliant player for the club so if he wants to go and finish his career somewhere else I think we shouldn't stand in his way. If not, then give him whatever he wants. He deserves it!