David Moyes conceded the terms of Carlos Alcaraz’s loan deal were starting to come into his thinking as he planned for the final two months of the campaign.
The 22-year-old joined Everton on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo in January, becoming the first signing of the new Moyes era at Goodison Park.
That deal contains an obligation to make the move permanent should Alcaraz trigger a performance clause in the contract, understood to be nine starts.
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Having begun the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night, the Argentine has now been named in four starting line-ups - the others being against Crystal Palace, Brentford and West Ham United.
His first, the trip to Selhurst Park, saw him produce a match-winning performance in which he created the first of Everton’s goals for Beto then smashed in the second in the 2-1 win. He has quickly become a fan favourite as Moyes has experimented with him across recent weeks, switching him between roles in the middle and both flanks.
With Everton set for a major rebuild in the summer, Alcaraz has done more than any other loanee to make a case for remaining at the club. The fee is thought to be around £12m and Everton are expected to have the financial and regulatory freedom to spend in the summer - though the club’s position significantly improves from July 1 in relation to Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Alcaraz has settled quickly and is keen to remain on Merseyside.
Asked whether his contract situation could impact his use of Alcaraz, Moyes said: “It is coming into my thought process a little bit. He has done well but obviously we want to give ourselves every chance to see what we are going to do with it.”
