OPINION
Many Everton fans surely relieved that Ashley Williams looks exit bound due to his contract still being on course to expire as he had to address concerns that age has caught up with him.
The 34-year-old’s current Toffees deal expires in 2019 (Source: Liverpool Echo) and you feel that if it didn’t the Premier League club would have a hard time getting someone to acquire his services.
Williams is spending the season on loan at Stoke City during to be so far out of Marco Silva’s plans he is surplus to requirements and even in the Championship he is starting to struggle.
The 6ft tall centre-back (Source: Transfermarkt) doesn’t seem able to deliver the performances he once was able to and when you consider he doesn’t look like having much in the tank, he is not needed at Goodison Park.
It would be a huge surprise if the Toffees offered a new deal and given the fact there’s been no mention of talks being considered and that fact he’s out on loan, it shows he is destined to exit in the summer without much fanfare.
Williams himself is putting on a defiant front that age has caught up with him and that perhaps hanging up his boots is closer than he previously felt.
The 34-year-old shared on Tuesday that while he acknowledged age comes to everyone, he personally still felt strong and able to contribute on the international stage for Wales.
“I’m ready for another campaign,” said Williams, as quoted by Wales Online.
“Age is something that comes to all of us but at the moment I feel strong and able to contribute.”
While Williams did prove useful for the Toffees for a little while after joining from Swansea City, many Everton fans are no doubt relieved that his contract comes to a timely end in the summer as that guarantees their club won’t be stuck paying his wages.