EVERTON have offered Seamus Coleman a new contract.
The Republic of Ireland legend, 36, looks set to stay on Merseyside ahead of the Blues’ move into their brand new stadium.
David Moyes vowed to keep the Ireland legend[/caption]
The full-back has been offered a new deal, as has teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye, while the club are in discussions with representatives of Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Coleman’s current Everton deal was set to expire at the end of June, with manager David Moyes having vowed to keep him.
Speaking back in May, the ex-Manchester United gaffer declared: “Séamus will stay next season, without doubt. Séamus will be part of the group. I need him here.
“His leadership, the message he has here amongst the dressing room and between the players is so strong, it’d be wrong of me to let him go.
“One way or the other, Séamus will be here next season.
“Séamus is actually a little bit more than being a player here. He’s going into a position where he’s helped the club through some of the most difficult periods.
“He’s never been to another club, we put him out on loan at Blackpool when he first came but other than that he’s been here and he’s played the games.”
Coleman arrived from Sligo Rovers in a bargain £60,000 deal in 2009 and, after a spell on loan at Blackpool who he helped to promotion, became an Everton star.
He also forced his way into the Ireland squad and has been captain since 2016, though injuries have kept him out of squads this season.
Despite those recent fitness issues, club and international teammate Jake O’Brien stressed the importance of Everton keeping hold of him.
O’Brien said: “He’s a huge part of the club at Everton, everyone knows that.
“He’s highly respected at the club.
“What he’s going to do next, I don’t know.
“He can do what he wants.
“If he wants to be a coach or a player, either one he wants to be but I think it’s important we keep him at the club, he’s at the heart of everything.”
Coleman – who turns 37 in October – was in joint caretaker charge with Leighton Baines in January, following the sacking of Sean Dyche.
They were at the helm for one match, against Peterborough United in the FA Cup, in which O’Brien made his first start since a League Cup tie earlier.
And O’Brien said: “He was only caretaker manager for a week or so but it was great.
“He’s like that all the time, always driving standards in training. He was no different as caretaker that week.
“He is always driving standards.”
