As relayed by the club’s official website, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti would like Leighton Baines to stay at the club for what would be the left-back’s 14th season at Goodison Park.

Once considered indispensable, Baines lost his place in the starting XI with the arrival of Lucas Digne from Barcelona in 2018. Last summer he signed a 12-month contract extension, and after his fine performances in Everton’s last two Premier League games, Ancelotti wants him to do it again this year.

The manager revealed that despite being 35 years old, Baines has no physical problems. The message both Ancelotti and the club are trying to imprint on him is ‘don’t stop playing, stay with us for the next year’. Ancelotti also said that both he and the club are going to talk to the player and try to convince him to continue playing for Everton for another year. It is obvious that his role would remain unchanged – he would still be a backup for Digne, and it remains to be seen if Baines considers the prospect motivation enough.