Koeman hints at McCarthy summer exit

Everton manager Ronald Koeman says James McCarthy will not be sold this January, but suggests the club will listen to offers for the Ireland midfielder this summer.

McCarthy fell down the Everton pecking order following the summer signing of Idrissa Gana Gueye, but seemed well set to win back his place in January with the Senegal international away in Gabon for the African Cup of Nations.

However, the 26-year-old is likely to be overlooked again for Sunday's Premier League match against Manchester City at Goodison Park, with Toffees' boss Ronald Koeman set to hand new £22m signing Morgan Schneiderlin a debut instead.

Aston Villa and Newcastle United were reportedly keen on a loan move for McCarthy, but Koeman says no deal will happen until the end of the season.

"There’s no chance James will leave in January – I don’t know about interest for him," the Dutchman told the Liverpool Echo.

"After the summer yes, but not now because the player has shown what I like – he has shown his quality and now it is important for this player to get some long time fitness and not be disrupted by injuries."

Koeman is looking to rebuild the underperforming squad he inherited from predecessor Roberto Martinez, and the Dutchman approved the £10m signing of Ademola Lookman from Charlton this week.

He also allowed Tom Cleverley and Oumar Niasse to move on loan to Watford and Hull respectively, while Darron Gibson, Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo are likely to be sold this summer.

"In some positions we need more balance. We need players for the future, that’s why we signed Lookman. He’s a future project," he said.

"We'd like to be stronger, we like to improve. If we can do that with the players that we have then we will, but if we can sign better players then we will do it.

"Most of the players know the situation. Some players now in the squad don’t have that future for Everton."

Photo: ©Getty Images/Clive Brunskill

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