Everton offer Coleman and Davies new deals in push for ‘competitive squad’

Everton have offered new contracts to the captain Séamus Coleman and midfielder Tom Davies after their Premier League survival.

Coleman is out of contract this summer and missed the end of last season with a knee injury that required surgery but remains a hugely influential figure on and off the pitch. The 34-year-old, who joined for a bargain £60,000 from Sligo Rovers in 2009, is expected to extend his outstanding career at Goodison Park and to be fit for the start of next season.

Davies is also out of contract this summer but is considering his options having endured an injury plagued season and made only substitute appearances under Sean Dyche. The 24-year-old, a product of Everton’s academy, has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs.

Everton have also offered a contract extension to the third-choice goalkeeper Andy Lonergan but the second choice, Asmir Begovic, is leaving on a free after rejecting a new deal. Andros Townsend, who has been sidelined by a cruciate knee ligament injury since March 2022, and Yerry Mina are also leaving as free agents, although they were not offered fresh terms. The promising 19-year-old midfielder Isaac Price is joining Standard Liège after rejecting Everton’s contract offer.

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Kevin Thelwell, Everton’s director of football, said: “We wish all of them the best with the next chapters in their careers. We have also offered new contracts to players and we will continue talking with them as we look to build a competitive squad for Sean Dyche and his staff.”