Ellis Simms, a great player for Everton, wanted to finish out his loan at Sunderland that Frank Lampard had cut short in January. After failing to acquire any new strikers, Sean Dyche halted his departure.
The Northern Echo claims Simms wants to return to Sunderland for another loan stint. The 22-year-old had a solid tenure at the Stadium of Light throughout the first half of the season. Unfortunately for him, Dyche has relegated him to the substitutes’ bench for the remainder of the season.
Simms contributed seven goals in 17 Championship outings and started 14 of a possible 18 Black Cats games. A toe ailment forced him to miss seven games in September and October. Although, after getting back to full health, the striker scored four times in nine games.
The form Simms exhibited with Sunderland encouraged Lampard and Everton to stop his loan deal early. He returned to Goodison Park on January 1 to take up Salomon Rondon’s spot following his axe. But he has yet to push in ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Neal Maupay.
Simms only played for 15 minutes this season for Everton under Lampard in the Premier League. As a substitute, he played in the matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton. Despite this, Lampard did not rely on him during West Ham United’s defeat.
Sunderland anticipated Everton would be in the market for a new striker in January, allowing them to loan Simms to the Toffees again. But the Toffees disappointed the Black Cats again upon his comeback as Dyche chose to retain the striker on Merseyside after failing to sign anybody.
Simms could only join Sunderland in a January move or remain at Everton pursuant to FIFA’s two-club rule. He also hoped to play more often in the first team under Tony Mowbray and was hence eager to return to the Stadium of Light. He had a better shot of making the team after an injury to Ross Stewart.
Reports from The Northern Echo reported throughout January that Sunderland was watching Simms’ status at Everton in view of another deal. Nonetheless, on transfer deadline day, The Northern Echo reported that Dyche decided to veto a deal that would have resulted in a striker joining the Toffees.
Dyche will now be hoping that Simms can impress Clinton Morrison with the same form he showed with Sunderland.
