Schalke have grown accustomed to the stability that Jonjoe Kenny provides on that right-hand side, but if he doesn’t start convincing someone, it’s all for naught.
Schalke‘s defense has been the most consistent bright spot this year. Not just the carousel of centerbacks that has proven resolute down to the fifth option, but the fullbacks as well. With Bastian Oczipka always reliable on the left and Jonjoe Kenny loaned in on the right, there was rarely an issue back there.
Everything is in place, save for at rightback, where Kenny will likely be heading back to his parent club of Everton. That is, despite both Schalke and Kenny himself admitting that they want to stay together.
The problem with this situation is that Everton is undoubtedly relying on Kenny to return. He would presumably be their starter from matchday one.
That’s the problem here—both Schalke and Everton are more than likely relying on him to be the guy. For Everton, the alternative is Seamus Coleman, who has been a true servant to the club. But he will be 32 at the start of next season and they’ll surely want to be phasing in the future.
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Schalke, meanwhile, has Daniel Caligiuri and Timo Becker both capable of playing right-back, but the problem is that they are both out of contract at the end of this season, whenever that may be.
So Everton has an old rightback and Schalke has no right-backs and Jonjoe Kenny is stuck in the middle, wanting to stay at the Veltins but still under the control of his parent club. And with no purchase clause in his loan, it’s not up to Die Knappen if they want to keep him, and it’s not up to Jonjoe Kenny either. It is completely up to Everton. If they don’t want to sell him, nobody wins. Except Everton. But we don’t care about them.
That said, surely Jonjoe Kenny and/or his agent have some swaying power here to make a case for a permanent move to stay in the Bundesliga, assuming that is in fact what he actually wants. He has been outspoken in his appreciation for the Blues and he’s even gone so far as to outright express and interest in staying.
Everyone wants this to happen except Everton, and they’re the only party that matters here. So all we can do now is hope that the Kenny party can do some convincing.