Liverpool Echo

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero is in Argentina and will not be returning for Sunday's huge Premier League match with Everton

Cristian Romero has sparked controversy by flying to Argentina days before Tottenham Hotspur host Everton on Sunday in a match in which their Premier League status will be on the line.

Spurs' relegation battle has gone to the wire after they lost 2-1 at rivals Chelsea on Tuesday to stay only two points above 18th-placed West Ham United.

Romero was not present at Stamford Bridge but had been described as a "great captain" by Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi a day earlier.

Yet it has emerged that the injured Argentina defender is back in his homeland at boyhood club Belgrano, who face River Plate on Sunday in a title decider.

Belgrano's official X account posted a video of Romero at the club's training ground on Thursday night in a move met with anger from a disgruntled Spurs fanbase fearful of a catastrophic first relegation in 49 years.

Belgrano president Luis Artime then gave further details on the World Cup winner's involvement with his old club. "Yesterday he was training and I told him I think he’s going to be the one who arrives at the World Cup in the best shape," Artime said in interview with TyC Sports, as relayed by Catamarc Actual and Sport Witness.

"I’ve seen him and he’s in great form. He’s going to arrive well-rested, ready to join the team at its peak.

"The rest are still competing. They’re all coming off tough competitions. Cuti has had a month and a half or two months of rest, during which he’s preparing very well and will be one of the best. He’s already working with the ball. He came with the national team’s physio."

While Romero was present for the 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United on May 11 and provided a light-hearted moment when he celebrated Mathys Tel's goal by bundling assistant coach Andreas Georgson to the floor, any absence on Sunday for the biggest Premier League match in Tottenham's history may prove the final straw in terms of the Argentinian's relationship with supporters.

And De Zerbi has now confirmed that will be the case.

Speaking at his press conference to preview the crucial clash with Everton, he said: “He spoke with the medical staff, and together they decided to go to Argentina to complete the rehab with the Argentine medical staff.

“We spoke last week. With me, he show always he wants to stay with us. He is already injured. I'm not stupid. If there is any player who thinks for himself, I can't be the same Roberto. But with Cuti I can’t say nothing.”

Romero would have not been fit to face the Blues but asked if he understood fans' frustrations, De Zerbi said: “100 per cent I understand.

“The decision is with the medical staff. I have not time to lose energy, we have to be focused just on the game. We have players good enough to achieve our target.”

A win or realistically a draw would ensure that Tottenham, who will have striker Dominic Solanke fit, would survive.

However, should they lose to Everton and West Ham win at home to Leeds, they would be relegated from the Premier League for the first time.

The fan group will make their feelings clear no matter the result in Tottenham Hotspur's crucial last-day Premier League clash against Everton

Fan group Change for Tottenham plan to protest after Sunday's final match of the season with Everton regardless of whether relegation is avoided.

Spurs remain embroiled in a battle to survive after they lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday to stay 17th and only two points above the Premier League's bottom three.

It has been a disastrous campaign for the world's ninth-richest football team with three head coaches and multiple unwanted records set, including losing six games in a row for the first time in the club's history and going on a 15-match winless run in the Premier League.

Ahead of the final-day clash at home to Everton, a statement from Change for Tottenham read: "This Sunday, for 90 minutes, we need to get behind the team. Nothing else matters.

"We need the points and the players need every one of us behind them for one last time this season.

"When the final whistle blows, regardless of the result, we need to stand up to the board for putting us in this perilous position."

An enormous injury list has taken its toll on Spurs, but Change for Tottenham have largely pointed the blame for this sorry season at chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, director of football Johan Lange and club owners ENIC, which are run by the Lewis family.

Venkatesham and Lange were central to the summer decision to appoint Thomas Frank alongside Daniel Levy, who left his role as chairman after 24 years in September.

At the time sources close to the Lewis family told the Press Association they wanted "more wins, more often" and felt a change at the top of the club was required after Levy had been the key decision-maker for nearly a quarter of a century.

However, Levy's departure contributed towards a leadership vacuum, despite Venkatesham since being able to hire performance director Dan Lewindon and Rafi Moersen as director of football operations.

FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page

After a bright start under Frank, he went on to record the worst win rate of any permanent Spurs manager before he was dismissed on February 11, which was a week on from the end of a relatively quiet winter transfer window despite a hefty injury crisis.

Tottenham turned to Igor Tudor, who lost five of his seven matches as interim head coach before the decision to bring in Roberto De Zerbi has been inspired.

De Zerbi's transformative effect at Spurs of raising a low-on-confidence and injury-hit group may still not be enough to avoid a catastrophic first relegation in 49 years if West Ham win at home to Leeds on Sunday and Everton triumph.

"Thomas Frank should have been sacked months before he was and Igor Tudor should never have been appointed, which resulted in our worst losing run in the club's history," a Change for Tottenham statement continued.

"We were desperate in January for new signings, every fan could see it and the board did nothing.

"Levy has gone and nothing has changed as it was never one man. It is ENIC and the Lewis family who own us and say nothing. Promised success, delivering failure.

"So, on Sunday our banners will go up in the North, East and South stands at full time regardless of the result. Join us to chant against the board and make your voice heard. We can't allow this to happen ever again."

The midfielder has missed the last tranche of games through injury. Moyes said last week that there was a chance he would be available for Tottenham but it will be interesting to see whether he plays or not. His selection in the Senegal World Cup squad suggests he is indeed close to recovery - will the Spurs match be a risk?

There is an open question over whether his future will be with the Blues - like Vitalii Mykolenko his contract expires in the summer, though the club retain the option to extend both deals.

I know Jordan Henderson brings experience and may perhaps be in that squad more for what he may bring off the pitch, but it is hard not to feel sorry for Garner. He has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season and maintained a consistent high standard even as Everton's form has gone up and down.

Garner has been a standout star for the whole season - he can count himself hard done by.

Hello everyone, Joe Thomas here at a bright, warm, sunny Finch Farm. It's a gorgeous morning. As for the mood here, well, we'll see. The Sunderland match the other day was a tough one and the abrupt end to the European push has been felt hard. There is no doubt we are in for an important summer and that may well be where more of the focus turns today, as big as the Spurs match is.

With this morning being the final chance reporters have to chance to quiz David Moyes until pre-season, expect there to be plenty of questions on transfers.

What do you believe is the priority position for Everton to attract this summer? You can have your say here:

Idrissa Gueye has missed Everton's last three matches - and his absence has been keenly felt.

David Moyes had said last week that the veteran midfielder, who along with Iliman Ndiaye, has been called up to Senegal's World Cup squad, had a chance of being fit for the last-day clash at Tottenham Hotspur.

But either way, there is a question mark of Gueye's future, given his contract expires in the summer.

And welcome to our live coverage of David Moyes' final press conference of the season.

The Everton manager will be with us from 10.30am.

The last time we heard from him was following Sunday's desperately disappointing 3-1 home loss to Sunderland, which has but all ended his side's chances of qualifiying for Europe.

What was being seen as a season of progress for the Blues is now being viewed by supporters as one of an opportunity missed.

Expect Moyes' thoughts on that and much more shortly.

Joe Thomas is at Finch Farm to bring you live updates from the press conference.

A look at which players could be featuring for Everton for the last time on Sunday when they go to Tottenham Hotspur

A number of players could be turning out for Everton for the last time at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The curtain comes down on the 2025/26 Premier League season this weekend – and possibly on Spurs’ 48-year tenure in the top flight – and, as always when it gets to the summertime, squads are reshaped with certain individuals moving on to pastures new.

In theory, everyone in David Moyes’ team could have the potential to depart, just as it is at every football club, but in reality certain individuals find themselves at distinct crossroads in their respective careers.

Here’s a look at who could be making their swansong in the royal blue jersey...

Club captain Seamus Coleman has announced that his time as an Everton player is ending after over 17 years’ service. The 37-year-old old came on as a late substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland last Sunday for one final home match at Hill Dickinson Stadium – his 434th outing which knocked his former team-mate Leon Osman and legendary leading goalscorer Dixie Dean out of the Blues’ all-time top 10 appearance list.

Perhaps the Republic of Ireland international might get another outing in north London? However, you would imagine he would only be called upon if nobody else was available.

Moyes has another right-back at his disposal in the shape of Nathan Patterson but his fellow Glaswegian is understood to be surplus to requirements despite having been brought to the club for £11million in January 2022 in the hope he would become Coleman’s long-term successor.

The 24-year-old has been overlooked by a string of Everton managers now despite being named in Scotland’s World Cup squad and, after coming close to joining Genoa on deadline day of the winter window after his manager admitted the Blues had been actively searching for a right-back for over a year, he is set to depart as he goes into the final 12 months of his current contract.

Over at left-back, there are also question marks about Vitalii Mykolenko, despite the Ukraine international having been Everton’s first choice in the position for his four-and-a-half years at the club.

Like Patterson, he was snapped up by Rafael Benitez in January 2022 – after the former Liverpool manager fell out with Lucas Digne and sold the France international to Aston Villa – but the 26-year-old’s current deal is due to expire this summer.

On face value, Mykolenko is on the verge of free agency but while the club have fudged the issue when asked, reports claim there is an option to extend by a year which would explain the seemingly relaxed attitude to the situation for a player who has turned out 156 times for the Blues and is seemingly at the peak of his powers.

Idrissa Gueye’s contract is also subject to a degree of ambiguity. When the midfielder signed a new one-year deal last summer, it was announced that there was an option for a further year.

A report in the Athletic now states that the 36-year-old – who along with fellow Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye missed seven matches while at the Africa Cup of Nations – has not made enough Premier League starts (he is on 25 with one game of the season left) to automatically trigger the extension and as such, fresh talks will be needed to resolve his future.

In the final hours of the winter transfer window, Dwight McNeil had a loan move to Crystal Palace agreed with an obligation for the south London side to buy him permanently this summer for £20million, but the deal fell through at the Eagles’ end with no sufficient explanation given, leaving the Rochdale-born player, his family and Everton all frustrated. Although the 26-year-old subsequently worked his way back into the team for a while as an inverted right winger, he’s been back on the bench again in recent weeks and might be set for a new challenge this summer given that Moyes was ready to let him go.

It remains unclear whether Tyrique George will be moving permanently in the opposite direction from the capital to Merseyside. On the same day that McNeil was supposedly heading to Selhurst Park, the Chelsea prospect joined Everton on loan with an option to make the move permanent in the summer.

Turning 20 just two days after he joined the Blues, George, who has been predominantly deployed on the left wing and has a year to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge, has made 10 appearances for Everton, but only one start and has never completed 90 minutes.

Also facing an uncertain future is number nine Beto.

Despite having hit double figures for the Blues in both of the last two seasons and with eight of his goals this term having come since the turn of the calendar year, speaking after his most recent strike in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on May 10, the 28-year-old who is set to enter the final 12 months of his current contract said: “When it’s finished, it’s finished. I don’t know the future, I still have a contract, so that’s it.”

Everton go to Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday with the north London side fighting to stay up

Tottenham Hotspur could be relegated from the Premier League because of “fuming” Everton manager David Moyes.

That’s the verdict of former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp whose father Harry Redknapp also managed the north London outfit between 2008-12. Tottenham, on 38 points, go into their final fixture of the season at home to the Blues on Sunday with their top-flight status still not secured.

West Ham United, on 36 points, who host Leeds United at the same time with a 4pm kick-off, just six-and-a-half miles away, know they must beat the Yorkshire side to have any chance of survival.

For Spurs, a win over Moyes’ mean would guarantee avoiding the drop while their superior goal difference of 12 better than the Hammers ensures that realistically, a draw would also be enough for them.

OPINION

The Blues have triumphed on seven occasions in Premier League away fixtures this term but last Sunday’s 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland extended their winless run to six matches, gave them a losing record for the campaign as a whole and effectively ended their hopes of European qualification with the Black Cats leapfrogging them in the process.

Chelsea’s subsequent 2-1 win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday mathematically ended Everton’s chances but kept the visitors sweating going into the last day.

Both the Blues and Spurs are two of half a dozen clubs who are ever-presents in the Premier League since it was formed in 1992 (the others being Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United) and to date Everton have been the only one of the six to go into the final fixture of a season with their top flight status on the line (three times, in 1994, 1998 and 2023).

However, the boot is on the other now and Redknapp also fears Roberto De Zerbi’s side could be coming up against a dangerous, wounded animal when it comes to Everton while Tottenham though have won only two Premier League games at home all season at their 62,850 base and have not triumphed there since the turn of the calendar year.

Goodison News quote the 52-year-old as telling Sky Sports: “Tottenham are sleepwalking towards relegation. I said it earlier this season.

“The only thing that’s saved them is a couple of good results. When I say good, they beat Wolves, and they beat an Aston Villa side who had seven players out at the time.

“Now they’ve got to find a way to win a game at home. Their home form has been horrendous all season, they’ve had no quality and no character to win a football match.

“Now they’ve got to find a way to beat Everton. David Moyes will be fuming after the weekend and he’ll be going there thinking: ‘We’ve got to get something out of this game’. I’d rather be playing Leeds at home than Everton.”

A look at the potential changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton's last day trip to Tottenham Hotspur

While their own European hopes are now dangling by the narrowest of threads and realistically they’re now playing for snookers, Everton must also consider the relegation battle when it comes to their team selection at Tottenham Hotspur.

If Chelsea defeat Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night then the David Moyes’ men fading hopes for continental competition would be officially extinguished. The west London outfit travel to Sunderland on the last day, so one of the two would be guaranteed to finish above the Blues.

So, even if Everton won handsomely and Brentford were beaten heavily at Liverpool, to turn around the current five goal deficit in goal difference between themselves and the Bees, they would be unable to climb into eighth place. Also, if Chelsea win, then it keeps Spurs fighting for survival going into the last day.

OPINION

Curiously if Roberto De Zerbi’s side were to triumph, or even draw given that they have a goal difference that is 13 better than that of West Ham United, then, while the Blues would not be mathematically out of the hunt, then they would not have to concern themselves with being fair to the Hammers and avoiding experimentation.

Either way, after Jake O’Brien’s struggles in the 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland on Sunday, there are question marks over the Republic of Ireland international. Will he be fit to play against Tottenham Hotspur, and if so, could he be moved to centre-back in place of either James Tarkowski or Michael Keane?

If O’Brien is ruled out or moved into the heart of defence then either Nathan Patterson or Seamus Coleman could step in at right-back but with the former now surplus to requirements and the latter having announced his departure as an Everton player, neither would be a forward-thinking move. Perhaps James Garner could even be asked to reprise his right-back role and move from central midfield?

Maybe Adam Aznou could even making a long-awaited Premier League debut at left-back in place of Vitalii Mykolenko? While Idrissa Gueye remains a fitness doubt for Spurs, if Garner was to move into defence then the likes of Harrison Armstrong, Charly Alcaraz, or even Merlin Rohl who started on the right wing against the Black Cats and netted his first goal in English football, before being moved into the engine room, could step in.

Armstrong, Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil would also be potential options both for wide roles with Iliman Ndiaye having struggled in recent weeks, or even as the number 10 with the form of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall having also dipped. Up front, Beto has been spearheading the attack in recent weeks when fit but after being on a job share with Thierno Barry all season, Moyes could always plump for the Frenchman as the curtain comes down.

Liverpool will be in the market for new defenders next season and Danny Murphy thinks he knows just the man

Liverpool should go after Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer, in a bid to bolster their leaky defence, according to former Reds star Danny Murphy.

Arne Slot's side remains on course to qualify for next season's Champions League despite suffering a miserable 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Reds have conceded 47 Premier League goals this term and will wave goodbye to stalwart left-back Andy Robertson later this month. Ibrahima Konate is still yet to sign a new contract, leaving Liverpool in need of defensive reinforcements and ex-Reds midfielder Murphy believes that the versatility of Dutchman Van de Ven would be ideal for his old club.

Speaking to Aceodds.com, Murphy said: “I think he (Van de Ven) ticks the boxes. I think obviously he's a wonderful athlete, good footballer. Adaptable as well, he can play left-back, left wing-back, he's played different positions for his national team. He's big, he's got presence, he's got Premier League experience.

“I think the rare moments of, call it bad attitude or ill-discipline, if you like, that have come are probably linked to the horrendous, chaotic situation Spurs are in. Very rarely do we see him lose his head. He's generally been pretty well-behaved and conducted himself pretty well."

Van de Ven is highly thought of at Spurs and was part of the team that lifted the Europa League trophy after defeating Manchester United in the final 12 months ago, but the north London club have suffered a torrid season and are currently scrapping to escape relegation from the Premier League.

They are currently a point above the drop zone with three games left to play. However, their poor season could lead to established stars looking elsewhere this summer and the 25-year-old is expected be a target for big clubs both home and abroad.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page

Van de Ven has made 31 Premier League appearances for Tottenham this season, but hasn't been without his issues, as Murphy acknowledges.

“My only slight concern with van de Ven is his injury record," he added. "I don't think he's played a full season yet and what you want at the back is durable players who can build relationships.

"But in terms of his ability, he'll be on the radar. There's a lot of good centre-halves out there. I think especially with his pace and physicality, I think if you're going to play front-foot football and go at teams, you need centre-halves who are quick and can recover and he's one of the best, in terms of his recovery, out there.”

If Tottenham Hotspur face the drop this season then Liverpool could take advantage and swoop for one player

Should Tottenham Hotspur face the drop this season, Liverpool must make a move for Dutch defender Micky van de Ven. Spurs currently sit in the relegation zone, two points off West Ham in 17th, after a disastrous campaign.

Following Igor Tudor's haphazard tenure and subsequent sacking, Roberto De Zerbi has been tasked with keeping Spurs afloat. The Italian will also have to convince the club's best players that their future remains at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While not to the same degree, Arne Slot's side have also struggled this season with an inconsistent and injury-hit backline playing its part. A deal has already been pre-agreed for Jeremy Jacquet to sign from Rennes ahead of the 2026/27 season, but additional defensive reinforcements are still needed.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page

Ibrahima Konate's unresolved future is a concern, Joe Gomez could leave this summer, while Virgil van Dijk will be 35 come the start of next season. Van de Ven, who has been linked heavily with the Reds, has a contract with Spurs until 2029.

According to talkSPORT, the club have slapped a £100 million price tag on the defender. Yet if De Zerbi's team were to drop into the Championship, the 25-year-old would no doubt be available for a knock-down price.

Is the Spurs ace worth splashing out on? The jury's out after Van de Ven's inconsistent season with Spurs. But ex-Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann thinks Liverpool need a player with the pace of Van de Ven.

He said: "We know in football how important pace is going forward... I think Micky van de Ven is one of the quickest, if not the quickest, in the Premier League. So, yeah, he'd certainly be one who's on the radar."

Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood also thinks it's the logical move for all parties. "Micky van de Ven is the obvious choice for Liverpool this summer in that left centre-back position," he said.

There are doubts, however. Ex-Liverpool star Dean Saunders has questioned whether Van de Ven possesses the intelligence to make it at Anfield. Past Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has also doubted Van de Ven's suitability for the Reds.

"When speaking about Micky van de Ven, he is lightning quick, but I have played against defenders like him," Saunders told aceodds.com. "I have played against the quickest centre-backs in the world, but it was never a problem for me. Being a top defender is all about your brain.

"It doesn't matter being quick if you don't have the brain. It helps you recover from mistakes, but you shouldn't make those mistakes to start. I am just not sure if Van de Ven's football brain is that good and if he can read the game. At this level, everything is about speed of thought."

Van de Ven is remarkably, and officially, the fastest player in Premier League history, clocking a top speed of 37.38 against Brentford in January 2024.

While he has struggled this season, you would be hard pressed to find a Spurs player who hasn't. The Dutch international's aerial duels stand at a respectable 53.62 per cent, while his passing accuracy is a formidable 89 per cent, meaning there would be a lot that Slot could work with.

His seven goals in all competitions this season is one more than Liverpool's top-scoring defender Virgil Van Dijk and the Spurs centre-back would offer the benefit of having a left-footed central defender in the team.

Van de Ven himself also seems to be fond of his potential suitors. Speaking in June 2023, shortly before his £43m move to Spurs, he told Voetbal International: "It's true that the director (then Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, previously worked for Wolfsburg) went there and I know that Liverpool followed me before. But at the moment, I don't know anything. Do I think Liverpool is a nice club? Naturally."

Former Premier League star Sean Davis has lifted the lid on his proposed move from Fulham to Everton

Former Fulham midfielder Sean Davis has revealed that he had a medical at Everton before making his “nightmare” transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Clapham-born Davis, who made his first team debut for Fulham as a 69th minute substitute in a 3-0 win over Cambridge United in Division Three (now League Two), made 198 appearances for the Cottagers and scored 20 goals, becoming the only player to represent in the club in all four divisions. Although he did not turn out against Everton in David Moyes’ first match in charge, a 3-1 win for the Blues at Goodison Park on March 16, 2002, he did catch the Glaswegian gaffer’s eye in both of the sides’ subsequent meetings the following season.

Davis turned out for the full 180 minutes in Everton’s 2-0 victory at Goodison on September 28, 2002, when Joseph Yobo made his debut for the hosts who triumphed through a brace of goals in the final minute of the first half through Kevin Campbell and Thomas Gravesen and then Fulham’s win by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage on May 3 through a couple of own goals by Alan Stubbs and goalkeeper Richard Wright.

That form convinced Moyes to agree a £5.2million deal to bring him to Merseyside in August 2003 that would have made the Londoner, who was called up for England that year but did not play, his most expensive purchase and the second most expensive buy in Everton history at the time after Nick Barmby. However, the Blues pulled the plug due to Davis’ knee injury and when he did leave Fulham the following summer it was a move across the capital to Spurs where he only made 17 appearances.

Everton News quote the now 46-year-old as telling the Undr The Cosh podcast: “I regret leaving Fulham, if I’m honest. I would have loved to have been a one club man.

OPINION

“Cookie (Chris Coleman) stitched me up there, he rang me. Everton wanted me at the time.

“I was going to go, I was moving to Everton. I had a medical and everything, but Cookie went: ‘I can’t sell you, the fans would lynch me, the only way you can go is to put in a transfer request.’

“Steve Finnan had left, Louis Saha had left, it wasn’t that I’d had my head turned for the money, it was more, was I going to get this opportunity again to test myself? Can I play Champions League football or for teams that are fighting for stuff?

“So, eventually I went to Cookie: ‘Okay, I’ll put in the transfer request, I’ll be the bad guy.

“Then I failed the medical at Everton, I had to come back and we played Everton six weeks later. I ended up going to Spurs and that was a nightmare.”

Davis subsequently turned out in the Premier League for Portsmouth, he was part of their squad when they won the 2008 FA Cup final but did not play; and Bolton Wanderers before finishing off his playing days with a short loan spell with Bristol City in the Championship in the 2011/12 season. Last September, BBC Sport featured him in an article on former footballers who had lost millions in investments, along with former Everton pair Craig Short and Tommy Johnson.

The loan deal for Merlin Rohl contained an obligation for it to become permanent in the event Everton avoided relegation - something that has now been achieved

Merlin Rohl is now expected to become an Everton player in the summer.

Results at the weekend made the Blues mathematically safe from relegation from the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur unable to catch them after their stoppage time heartbreak at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion.

Everton’s top flight survival is the condition that should trigger the conversion of Rohl’s loan move from Freiburg into a permanent one. The deal is understood to be worth around £18m.

FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page

Rohl has, at times, impressed behind the scenes since his summer deadline day move from the Bundesliga. But a series of injuries have curtailed his ability to have a serious impact on David Moyes’ first team.

There have been good performances, most notably in the valuable away wins at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, victories secured with depleted squads during a winter in which Moyes was without a host of key stars.

But the return of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from injury and Idrissa Gueye from the Africa Cup of Nations, combined with the impressive form of James Garner, have limited the 23-year-old’s chances.