Everton defender Phil Jagielka could be on his way back to Sheffield United this summer after the Blades secured promotion to the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper moot the possibility of the Toffees veteran, who has 40 caps under his belt for England, returning to Bramall Lane to rejoin the club where he made 247 appearances, including a spell in the top flight during the 2006/07 season.
Jagielka only made seven appearances for Everton this season, a knee injury keeping him out for part of the campaign while Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane were Marco Silva’s first choice centre backs, the report stating a return to Sheffield United should not be ruled out.
Opinion
Jagielka has no future at Everton – or at least, he should not have one. His time at Goodison Park is over and he has been usurped by defenders who are quicker, stronger and just more well suited to Everton’s mobile style of football, not to mention the cut and thrust of the Premier League. A return to Sheffield United would be a fitting end for a man who has served both Everton and the Blades admirably and with his old side in the Premier League once again, it seems fitting he should head back as a more experienced head to help them through their first season back. Of course, if Kurt Zouma does not return after heading back to Chelsea and Everton cannot find a suitable replacement, it could well be that Jagielka is kept on as backup to the likes of Keane and Yerry Mina. It would be cruel to keep someone who really has little chance of playing on board when he is coming to the end of his career but needs must sometimes.