View: Academy star's future at Everton looks bleak: Toffees have clear summer decision to make

Martin Sherif is on loan at Port Vale from Everton this season.

Everton have had a number of academy prospects to get excited about over the last few years, but very few of them have actually lived up to expectations.

One of those is Sherif, who has been with the Toffees since he was 16 years old, and has featured regularly for their academy sides.

The 19-year-old is currently out on loan at Port Vale in League One, but his contract situation, matched with his perfomances paint a rather bleak picture of his future on Merseyside.

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How has Martin Sherif fared at Port Vale?

Sherif only joined Vale on loan in February, after having his temporary stay at Rotherham cut short.

The teenager scored two goals in 10 appearances for Rotherham and has managed just one in his five appearances for Port Vale, having blanked in their latest 1-0 FA Cup win over Bristol City.

It leaves him with a total of four goal contributions in 15 appearances this season, which is far from being a positive return.

However, his deeper stats showcase where the striker has struggled the most, with Sherif having won just 37.1 per cent of his physical duels this season, as well as having completed just 48.3 per cent of his attempted passes.

Sherif has struggled to make his mark in senior football since the start of the campaign, which will certainly cast doubts over whether he has any future at Everton.

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Everton faced with a clear call to make this summer

Sherif will return from his loan spell at the end of the season, albeit only for a short time.

His contract with the Toffees is due to expire this summer, and given the lack of promise he has shown in League One, it seems unlikely that he will be retained.

Everton are already going to be in the market for a new striker next season, meaning Sherif would have even less of a look-in to the senior environment, even if he were to stay.

For both parties, an exit would make the most sense, allowing the teenager to find a new permanent home and make something of his career in the EFL.

For more on Everton’s youth, check out Football Insider for the latest news and analysis.

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