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Sources: Everton to decide Conor Coady deal in next 24 hours
Clarity over Conor Coady’s future is expected imminently with Everton required to decide whether to make his loan move permanent by the end of May, sources have told Football Insider.
The 30-year-old joined the Toffees from Wolves in August in a season-long deal featuring an option to buy believed to be in the region of £4.5m.
The triggering of that clause had initially looked to be a formality after Coady started the campaign as a mainstay under Frank Lampard.
However, following the arrival of Sean Dyche in January, the defender lost his starting place to former Burnley man Michael Keane, while the departing Yerry Mina was also later preferred.
Consequently, he did not return to the fold until the final game of the season, a spate of defensive injuries opening up an opportunity to start the crucial 1-0 win over Bournemouth that saved Everton from relegation.
And that lengthy absence from the team has led to uncertainty over whether the Blues, who will be required to spend wisely this summer amid FFP concerns, will move to sign Coady permanently.
An answer on that front is at least expected soon, with Football Insider understanding that Wolves have set a deadline of May 31 for an answer from Everton.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Sunday’s win over Bournemouth, the St Helens-born centre-back hinted that he would be keen to help bring about a brighter future at Goodison Park.
He said: “This [relegation battles] has become a bit of a thing now, and we don’t want to make it a bit of a thing. This is where we need to improve and need to reset.
“I’ll be honest, it has been the hardest season of my life and my career. Finally we’re there now and there is a lot of relief.
“It’s something you don’t want to be a part of, this giant of a football club, going down. It is up to us now. We have to better as a football club. We can’t keep this going as a common theme.
“We have to draw a line in the sand somewhere and get better. It has been a real hard season. This club has to improve because it is a giant.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire makes astonishing Everton FFP claim.