Friday’s Toffee Bites: Beni Baningime is Everton’s future

Everton do not need any more central midfielders. Even if Morgan Schneiderlin leaves and James McCarthy never returns to his pre-injury form, this team has plenty to survive in the middle of the park.

Beni Baningime is the heir apparent in the Blues midfield. He’s already gotten some minutes with the first team and has shown positional awareness and intelligence that isn’t often found in players his age. Sure, he needs to get up to Premier League speed on a week-to-week basis, but the tools are all there.

If Everton are going to get back to the top of the Premier League, it is going to be because of a solid base of in-house talent. They can’t compete with the Manchester clubs or even cross-town rivals Liverpool in transfer dealings. They will always be one step behind. Let Schneiderlin go if he must, but don’t search for a replacement. Everton already have one.

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Friday’s Toffee Bites

Chelsea hold on at Everton to maintain three-point WSL lead - The Guardian
Chelsea maintained their three-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Women’s Super League thanks to a 1-0 win at Everton.

Jack Wilshere to Everton; Toffees lead five-way battle - Express
The Arsenal midfielder has less than three months remaining on his current deal and has been delaying signing fresh terms at the Emirates Stadium.

Ademola Lookman transfer hopes depend on Everton situation - ESPN
RB Leipzig hope to sign on-loan Everton winger Ademola Lookman on a permanent basis but said it would depend on what happens at Goodison Park amid uncertainty over the future of manager Sam Allardyce.

Kevin Mirallas Edging Closer to Everton Exit, Winger Wants Olympiakos Stay - SI.com
The winger has moved a step closer to the exit door at Goodison Park after he revealed his desire to stay in Greece with loan club Olympiakos.

Schneiderlin On Baningime’s ‘Desire To Learn’ - EvertonFC.com
Morgan Schneiderlin has revealed how he has been impressed by the attitude of fellow midfielder Beni Baningime and says the 19-year-old displays an appetite to learn every time he steps onto the training pitch.

Fonseca heading for England - The Gambling Times
Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca is on his way to the Premier League this summer, his camp understands.

What and How to Watch

MLS: Sporting Kansas City vs Vancouver Whitecaps, 9 p.m. ET, fuboTV
La Liga: Leganes vs Deportivo La Coruna, 3 p.m. ET, fuboTV
Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Wolfsburg, 2:30 p.m. ET, FS2
Ligue 1: Nantes vs Rennes, 1:30 p.m. ET, fuboTV
Dijon vs Olympique Lyonnais, 3 p.m. ET, beIN Sports
Championship: Millwall vs Fulham, 2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN+
NHL: Flyers at Penguins, game 5, 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN
Wild at Jets, game 5, 7:30 p.m. ET, USA
Avalanche vs Predators, game 5, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN
NBA: Cavaliers at Pacers, game 3, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Raptors at Wizards, game 3, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Celtics at Bucks, game 3, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

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