The first loan report in three weeks has finally landed at The Toffee Blues. There is a lot of action to cover as we enter the tail end of the season, including more goals and assists, as well as cup wins, and promotion chances being dashed.
Dele Alli is still injured and reportedly back in the UK from his failed loan at Besiktas. Young Goalkeeper Joao Virginia hasn’t made an appearance for his loan club Cambuur in the Eredivisie since January. Virginia has reportedly returned back to Everton after sustaining an injury that will keep him out for the season. Dutch outlet Leeuwarder Courant
Eredivisie
Jarrad Branthwaite – PSV Eindhoven – 2nd/18
PSV have played three games since the last report, with Jarrad Branthwaite playing every game. The Boeren moved up to second place in the Eredivisie with wins over FC Volendam, and a crucial win over close rivals Ajax, with Branthwaite keeping a clean sheet.
The season then got better for the 20-year-old the following week, with PSV beating Ajax, managed by former Everton defender John Heitinga, again in the final of the KNVB Cup.
Despite scoring an own goal, the centre-half always looked calm and composed, and impressed yet again, with PSV flooding his comment sections on social media begging him to stay.
However, according to Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad, a permanent transfer is currently ‘unfeasible’, with it looking increasingly likely the defender will return to the Toffees.
Whatever league the Blues are in next season, Jarrad Branthwaite is a player that they should be looking to build the team around.
Super Lig
Jean-Philippe Gbamin – Trabzonspor – 8th/19
In the past three weeks Gbamin has played only 13 minutes for Trabzonspor coming on as a late substitute in two games. There isn’t really much else to say on the Ivorian who you could say has failed to secure a place in the second half of the season.
We will likely be seeing Gbamin back at Everton for pre-season with the 27 year old’s contract expiring next summer.
Ligue 1
André Gomes – Lille – 5th/20
Lille have also picked up a bit of form going into the final few weeks of the season, picking up two wins and a draw in their last three games. They are two points behind Monaco in fourth, with the two teams playing each other a week on Sunday.
Gomes has been part of the Lille midfield which has been hailed as one of the best in the league by many pundits, solidifying his place in the team week after week.
In their last game against Ajaccio, the Portuguese midfielder bagged two goals, one an absolute beauty from twenty-five yards out which he curled into the top right corner.
Many Lille fans want Gomes to stay at the club, with one even writing ‘you can play Champions League football or EFL. It is your choice’.
Arguably, no matter the league that Everton are in next year, Gomes will move on in the summer, to Lille or to another club around Europe.
Ligue 2
Niels Nkounkou – Saint-Étienne – 11th/20
It is safe to say that Nkounkou’s loan to Saint-Étienne has gone much better than his loan to Cardiff in the first half of the season. He made eighteen appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring only once. He has made fifteen appearances for Saint-Étienne, scoring six times and registering seven assists.
The Frenchman has scored two goals in the last three weeks, and has helped the Loire outfit move away from the relegation places to currently sit eleventh in the league.
Despite reports in recent weeks that the eastern French team do not have the funds to sign the defender/midfielder, L’Équipe reported last week that they are going to activate the clause to sign him permanently, and then sell him for a profit straightaway.
Whatever the outcome, this loan has been successful for both the player and the club.
Championship
Tom Cannon – Preston North End – 11th/24
Preston North End’s slim chances of promotion ended over the last three weeks, with three defeats in their last four games.
Yet Tom Cannon has still proved vital to Ryan Lowe’s side, continuing his fine form with another goal and fantastic all-round performances. The striker has scored eight goals in nineteen appearances, in what is arguably the toughest league in the English football pyramid.
Preston and Cannon are in action for the final time this season on Monday night, when they host promotion-chasing Sunderland at Deepdale. Cannon will be looking to finish the season strongly, and then integrate himself into the Everton setup over the pre-season.
English Football League One
Lewis Dobbin – Derby County – 6th/24
Dobbin has only made three substitute appearances in the last four games, totalling eighty-four minutes. In the game against Burton Albion, he did not make it onto the pitch at all.
The Rams face Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, knowing a win will secure sixth place, and a promotion semi-final against the same opponent.
Dobbin will be looking to contribute in the final league game of the season, and in the push for promotion if Paul Warner’s side better Peterborough United’s result.
Lewis Gibson – Bristol Rovers – 16th/24
Bristol Rovers will finish between 14th and 17th in League One, although they are winless in their last six games. Despite this, Lewis Gibson has featured in every game, playing the full 90 minutes in five of them.
Whilst it has not been an overly successful season for Joey Barton’s side, Lewis Gibson can hold his head high after battling injury to become a key starter in the side. Many of the Gas faithful want the club to sign the defender permanently, and with his contract expiring in June, the club may be able to.
He has yet to make a senior appearance for the Blues, and with the centre-back position as crowded as it is, he may have to look for first-team football elsewhere next season.
Lewis Warrington – Fleetwood Town – 13th/24
Another successful loan for the Toffees this season is that of Lewis Warrington and his move to Fleetwood Town last August. The midfielder has featured forty-five times in all competitions for Scott Brown’s side this season, cementing himself in the first-team and becoming a fans favourite.
Fleetwood will be playing League One football again next season, but it will be interesting to see where Warrington will be playing. During pre-season last year, he was not initially allowed to leave the club on loan as the management team were extremely impressed by him. They then decided that there was enough cover in the position and allowed him to leave on loan.
Which league Everton play their football in next season will again determine where Lewis Warrington plays his football. If Sean Dyche’s side stay up, then he will no doubt leave the club on loan.
However if Everton are relegated to the Championship, he may be one of the players the club look to build the team around.
National League North
Harry Tyrer – Chester – 3rd/24
Chester will have goalkeeper Harry Tyrer for at least another two games as they look to seal their promotion to the National League. The Seals will face Brackley Town in the play-offs, going into the fixture in fine form, only losing one of their last seventeen games.
One of the reasons for this has been Harry Tyrer. The Everton loanee finished with the best defence in the league, only conceding forty-one goals in forty-six games. He also kept twenty clean sheets.
Tyrer has proven time and time again that he is an outstanding goalkeeper this season, with all Chester fans wanting to keep him beyond this season, whatever happens. However, with how impressive the shot stopper has been, it is highly likely that he will be playing his football at a higher standard next season.
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