Everton transfer news: Marco Silva coy over Phil Jagielka's Toffees future

Jagielka has been at the heart of Everton's defence for more than a decade but his contract is up at the end of the season

David Charlesworth
Saturday 04 May 2019 08:53 BST
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Marco Silva refused to discuss Phil Jagielka's future at Everton as he insisted the club captain's late cameo in the 2-0 victory over Burnley was not for sentimental reasons.

Jagielka has been at the heart of Everton's defence for more than a decade but his contract is up at the end of a season where he has been limited to seven appearances.

The latest came in Everton's final fixture of the campaign at Goodison Park, where he received a rapturous reception after replacing Gylfi Sigurdsson in added-on time.

Silva revealed he met Jagielka this week and is planning another conversation with the 36-year-old in the coming days.

However, when asked to divulge the details of the discussion, Silva said: "What I said to him is to stay between me and him.

"I didn't talk just about the future, we talk about all season, about many things, at the end he is our captain, not just about what you want to do.

"But when I took that decision (to bring him on as a substitute) that was not because he will be here or not next season. I had one more to do."

Everton kept their faint hopes of a top-seven finish alive as two goals in three first-half minutes, a deserved reward after a barnstorming start, handed them a fourth successive home win on Friday night.

Richarlison's 17th-minute effort took a telling final touch off Burnley defender Ben Mee, while Seamus Coleman headed in on the rebound as Everton moved a point behind Wolves in seventh.

It is a position which will seal a Europa League berth if Manchester City defeat Watford in this month's FA Cup final, although Everton's aim will be extinguished if Wolves beat already-relegated Fulham this weekend.

Silva said: "It was a very good performance. In my opinion, the first 30 minutes we did a fantastic game, almost all the first half but the first 30 minutes we did really well.

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"Of course the second half was not so good. We have tried to control the game, not with the ball, not doing the same things.

"But we deserve really the three points. All credit to our players, they did well again. Our job this weekend is done, now let's see what the others can do."

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