Everton have turned down Schalke’s efforts to sign Jonjoe Kenny on loan for another season.
That’s according to club director Jochen Schneider, who confirmed the right-back will be returning to Goodison Park.
Kenny has spent the season on loan with the Bundesliga side after it was made clear last summer that playing time would be limited with Everton.
Like other English talents, he has flourished in the country, managing two goals and three assists in 31 Bundesliga games and earning rave reviews from fans and pundits alike.
Indeed, he was widely considered as one of the few positives out of a disappointing season for Schalke, who finished 12th in the table.
They were keen to keep him for as long as possible, although it was made clear a permanent deal was off the cards due to Everton’s asking price.
Similarly, Kenny has expressed his interest in staying at the club in some capacity having settled quickly in Germany and enjoyed the regular playing time he was looking for.
However, it seems neither will get their wish, with Schneider revealing that Everton have turned down their advances.
“Jonjoe fitted Schalke like a glove,” Kicker report him saying.
“We have deposited our interest in him coming back to us for another year on a loan basis.
“Everton saw it differently; we have to respect that.”
The question now is whether Kenny stays at Everton this summer or finds himself moved on as part of the bigger rebuild.
The Blues certainly need reinforcements at right-back, and he has impressed in the Bundesliga, but whether that’s been enough to convince Carlo Ancelotti or Marcel Brands to give him his chance is unknown.
Whatever funds Everton have available to them is likely to be the determining factor. If there is money, it is easy see to them spending to improve a problem area.
However, if money is tight, which is likely, Kenny may just find himself as the beneficiary while Everton focus on improving elsewhere.
