JAMES MCCARTHY IS expected to leave Everton before the current transfer window closes, according to reports in the British media.
The Ireland international was a regular in the side under previous boss Roberto Martinez, but it is believed the 25-year-old is not in new boss Ronald Koeman’s long-term plans.
McCarthy has started this season as a right-sided midfielder, with Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye preferred in the centre. The former Wigan player was also substituted after just 38 minutes of Everton’s 2-1 win over West Brom at the weekend.
The Toffees have also been linked with Belgian international Axel Witsel and Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko, as they look to bolster their midfield options.
McCarthy, meanwhile, is reportedly of interest to a number of clubs, including Celtic, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Sunderland. He had been linked with Tottenham, Man City and Man United just over a year ago, and the new names targeting the Glasgow-born midfielder are perhaps an indication of how much the star’s status has fallen in recent times.
Along with many of his teammates, McCarthy had a disappointing campaign last year, as Everton finished 11th. He has struggled with persistent injury problems of late, and there were suggestions that McCarthy lacked sharpness during Ireland’s Euro 2016 campaign.
The Ireland player was poor in games against Sweden and Belgium, before delivering a much-improved performance in the 1-0 win over Italy, but he was then no better than average in the last-16 match with France, as opponents like Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi dominated in midfield.
McCarthy is not the only Irish player out of favour at Everton, with Koeman previously stating that Aiden McGeady has no future at the club, while the Toffees are also understood to be willing to let Darron Gibson leave, despite the 28-year-old Derry native signing a new contract in the summer.
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