Everton defender Leighton Baines has jetted to America on a family holiday following the end of the season to mull over the Toffees’ contract offer, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The regional newspaper claim that the Toffees are hoping the 34-year-old left-back accepts their offer of a new contract with his current deal set to expire in the summer.
The Liverpool Echo report that Marco Silva is eager to keep Baines at Goodison Park as he wants the experienced defender to provide back-up for Lucas Digne.
Daily Mail previously reported that the Toffees were set to offer the left-back a new one-year deal and that Silva had discussed the player’s future plans with him.
OPINION
Baines managed only six league appearances in his 2018/19 campaign, so clearly he has big decision to make about his future. The 34-year-old knows he won’t get regular football next season if he stays at the Toffees and that might be something he wants before he hangs up his boots. At the age of 34-years-old, Baines knows that he is closer to the end of his career than the begining, and each choice he makes from here on out, could have huge implications. However Baines’ love for the Toffees is known as he has been a loyal servant for many years. So perhaps he doesn’t want to consider playing for another club after featuring 411 times for Everton. It’s rare for a top-quality player like Baines to stay put at one club for so long these days, and it is refreshing to see. However given how important this decision is set to be for the defender, it is good to read that he is jetting off to America to discuss his future with his family in a relaxing setting as surely that will led him to making the right choice.