OPINION
Everton have enjoyed a good run of producing exciting youth prospects for the first team of late and they will be keen to keep the local talent coming through their academy system.
Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny have played their part in Marco Silva’s side over the last 12 months and there are a number more waiting in the wings to try and forge a career at their boyhood club.
One of those who seems to be facing a crunch decision over fighting for a place at Everton and leaving Goodison Park is Kieran Dowell, the 21-year-old midfielder having found himself some way down the pecking order.
Shipped out on loan to Sheffield United in January, he enjoyed a promotion winning campaign, making 16 Championship appearances to help the Blades finished second.
With his impressive form, it should come as no surprise that the Liverpool Echo are reporting that the newly promoted outfit are keen on his capture, Chris Wilder’s side joined by Huddersfield Town, one of the clubs swapping places between the Premier League and the Championship, in hunting the England under-21 international.
The youngster finds himself at a crossroads – leave Everton to build a career elsewhere, or remain on Merseyside to try and make his name in blue.
Really though the Toffees should be giving him a final chance to make the grade, acting as Gylfi Sigurdsson’s understudy in the Premier League.
A decent passer of the ball – with nearly 16 successful passes and a 73.8% average accuracy per game (source: Whoscored) in the Championship – he could thrive in the top flight, where he can find more time and space to operate.
Other than Sigurdsson, there are no natural attacking midfielders among the squad and at 21-years-old, Dowell could improve significantly by playing alongside and learning from the likes of the Icelandic international.
He deserves a shot – which could be his last – at making his mark on Everton. Fail to do so and he can wave goodbye in January.