Tom Davies must step up for Everton in the 2020/21 Premier League season after Carlo Ancelotti made clear that his intentions are to keep the midfielder on Deadline Day.

What’s the word?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Ancelotti has met with Davies to discuss the 22-year-old’s immediate future and made clear to the Toffees product that he will not be leaving Goodison Park this summer.

Davies had been linked with a potential move to Southampton last month but Ancelotti denied any contact between the clubs at the time, stating that Davies remained a part of his plans despite struggling for game time over the opening weeks of the season.

Ancelotti awarded Davies his first start of the league campaign on Saturday as the Italian dealt with injuries to Allan and Andre Gomes, after which Davies spoke on his discussions with the Blues boss.

“I spoke to him he said he didn’t want me to go on loan, he saw me as an important part of the squad,” Davies said.

“To hear that from him, it puts my mind at ease. I’m grateful for the opportunities today and I have to keep working as hard now, to keep myself in the manager’s mind.”

Time to step up

Davies performed well against Brighton & Hove Albion over the weekend as he produced a solid display in the holding midfield role before slotting in at right-back after Seamus Coleman was forced off through injury.

However, one appearance does not gloss over last season’s struggles and Davies must now live up to his commitment and continue to step up when called upon after receiving Ancelotti’s backing.

The £14.4m-rated midfielder lost his place in the Everton first-team over the summer following the arrivals of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, despite starting 14 of his 18 appearances under Ancelotti in the Premier League last season and only failing to feature twice.

Davies’ efforts last term were what ensured Ancelotti and Director of Football Marcel Brands strived to improve the Blues’ midfield in the transfer market, though, having won just 50% of his duels all league season and made just 0.7 successful dribbles, 22.7 accurate passes, taken 0.4 shots and won possession just 0.2 times a game, per SofaScore.

He was up on those numbers against Brighton on Saturday but only with a 60% duel success rate, while only finding teammates with two long balls from four and was dribbled past twice, showing room remains for improvement if Davies wants to become a regular starter again.

AND in other news, a Premier League rival is considering a late move to sign an Everton player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.