Bournemouth join race for McCarthy

AFC Bournemouth are the latest club to be reportedly interested in loaning Everton midfielder James McCarthy.

McCarthy, 28, has been linked with temporary switches to Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United, but the Daily Mail now reports that the Cherries, who face the Blues at Goodison Park on Sunday, are also keen on the Irishman.

He is unlikely to enjoy regular first team football with Marco Silva’s side, with the Toffees boss preferring Idrissa Gueye, André Gomes, Tom Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin as his midfield options so far, despite the manager having announced that the player was fit for selection a couple of weeks ago.

After suffering a horrific double leg break against West Brom last January, McCarthy has not played a minute of competitive football since.

Despite returning to training in September, his only feature in a matchday squad under Silva came on Saturday, when he was an unused substitute in the 2-1 FA Cup victory over Lincoln City at Goodison.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Indeed, his only football this campaign came in the 4-0 friendly win against Gor Mahia back in November, in which McCarthy came off the bench to play the final half-hour.

McCarthy’s contract at Everton, the club he joined in September 2013 from Wigan Athletic for £13 million, expires in June 2020.