No team photo, Loftus-Cheek available… does Beni Baningime have Everton future?

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Everton youngster Beni Baningime’s future at the club appears to be in some doubt.

A few days ago the youngster was not included in a first-team photo, despite having appeared 11 times for the club in the Premier League last season.

And now, the club are being linked with a move for Chelsea fringe player Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the England international will be allowed to leave the club on loan in January, and Everton could apparently follow up their original interest in the player.

Loftus-Cheek impressed with Crystal Palace last season and may be targeted by the Toffees in the winter window.

And if that is the case, then it might prompt a move away for Baningime.

Major competition

Marco Silva bringing in Loftus-Cheek to his first-team would make it even more difficult for Baningime to break back in.

The 20-year-old midfielder already has competition in the form of Tom Davies, Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson and returning stars Andre Gomes and James McCarthy.

Loftus-Cheek would certainly be another dent to his first-team hopes.

Silva has so many options available to him that it’s difficult to see where even cup opportunities would come from for Baningime.

The ankle injury he sustained in pre-season appears to have really pushed him away from the limelight. That is a shame for the talented youngster, who only signed a four-year deal in May.

After his lack of appearance in the team photo, and growing speculation that Everton could swoop for Loftus-Cheek, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Baningime on the way out of Goodison Park in January via a loan move at least.