Everton manager Marco Silva has refused to be drawn on whether Phil Jagielka will still remain at the club beyond the season, following the Toffees’ 2-0 win against Burnley on Friday.
Jagielka has been an excellent servant at Goodison Park forming a key part of Everton’s defence over the last decade since joining from Sheffield United in 2007, amassing over 300 appearances for the club.
However, this season the former England international has been limited to making just seven appearances, in Silva’s first season in charge of the club, with the Portuguese preferring to pair Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma at the heart of Everton’s defence.
As quoted by the Independent after Everton’s win against Burnley on Friday Silva when asked to reveal what he has spoken to the 36-year-old about his future, said, “What I said to him is to stay between me and him.
“I didn’t talk just about the future, we talk about all season, about many things, at the end he is our captain, not just about what you want to do.”
OPINION
Phil Jagielka has been a huge influence around Goodison Park since he joined the club from Sheffield United, following the sides relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2006/07 season. The 36-year-old has been a key figure in under the likes of David Moyes, Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman during his time at the club. However, this season under Marco Silva, for the first time in his Everton career, he has seen his first team appearances limited, although his presence around the dressing room will still have been a valuable asset to Silva in his first year in charge of the club. This summer could well be the right time for Jagielka to call time on his spell at Goodison Park, with him unlikely to feature heavily again next term, and with the veteran defender entering the final part of his career he might be keen to get some playing time at another club. Jagielka’s presence and experience would be valuable to any club who he may join this summer if he decides to carry on playing, and while Everton will miss his presence they have to look to the future with the likes Keane and Zouma at the age where, if both remain at the club next season, could develop into good players for years to come for Everton.