Season › 2014-15 › News Mirallas still content with life at Goodison Lyndon Lloyd , 14 May, 24comments | Jump to most recent Mirallas scored a stunning free kick at Upton Park in January to keep Everton's FA Cup hopes alive. (Ian Walton/Getty Images) Kevin Mirallas has spoken again of how settled he feels at Everton as he looks to round off what could be his best season for the club despite more injury problems restricting his playing time. The Belgian has been trying to distance himself from comments attributed to him in the press in his home country earlier this year in which he appeared to outlined his desire to play Champions League football next season. At the time, that was still a possibility with the Blues as Roberto Maritnez's side were still in the Europa League which offers a pathway to Uefa's elite competition for the winners. With Everton now out of contention for Europe and Mirallas unable to hold down a regular first-team berth, few Evertonians would be surprised to see the 27 year-old move on this summer. Mirallas insists he is happy where he is, however, and told the Liverpool Echo of his desire to play a more central role off compatriot Romelu Lukaku next season. “I had come back from injury and started the season really, really well and people [were] speaking about me wanting to leave," Mirallas said. "[That] has never come from me ... I never said I wanted to leave. I have always been happy here at this club, my family are happy where we are so it is a shame when stuff gets said and it isn't me who said it. “It could be my best season for Everton and whenever I have been picked by the manager I have brought something positive and contributed to the side. And in terms of goal-scoring, I am the second highest scorer at the club.” Article continues below video content I never said I wanted to leave. I have always been happy here at this club, my family are happy where we are so it is a shame when stuff gets said and it isn't me who said it. The former Olympiacos forward cited his electric appearance as a substitute in the FA Cup replay at West Ham that almost sent the Blues through to the Fourth Round as his best display of the campaign and evidence of the kind of partnership he can strike up with Lukaku as a second forward. “It was a special game and one of my best performances," Mirallas continued. "I came on after not starting and managed to do one or two good things in the game. I scored a goal and playing in that position, behind the striker is a role I enjoy and a place I'd like to play more often.” “That was a good example of how Romelu and myself have got a really, really good understanding. It is a shame that we've maybe not had the chance to play together in those two roles more often this season. “I have a really, really good understanding with him and the closer I am to him on the field means we can put that good understanding to use more frequently." Mirallas will be entering the final year of his contract this summer — although Everton have the option of extending it by a further season — and negotiations over a new deal had been shelved until the end of the season. Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo Reader Comments (24) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Jim Bennings 1 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:38:43 Good news!!We donÂ’t have too many match-winners so keeping hold of the ones we have is imperative. Craig Mills 2 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:42:18 This sounds good news for me, heÂ’s been very inconsistent this season but still weighed in with a good return of goals. Could be useful playing off Lukaku, as he tends to drift out of the game out on the wing. Colin Glassar 3 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:02:35 Well I hope he means it. Sometimes his demeanour makes him look like his heart isnÂ’t in it. Kelvin Thomas 4 Posted 14/05/2015 at 21:58:12 Spot on, Craig. Wherever he starts, heÂ’s always being pulled inside. He isnÂ’t a winger!We need two wide players over the summer. Lennon and another as we canÂ’t rely on Pienaar. Tony Hill 5 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:21:48 I donÂ’t know why heÂ’s not been tried centrally on a consistent basis, given his goals for us, his (generally) cool finishing and his 1 in 2 record at Olympiakos where he played in that role. Danny Broderick 6 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:47:55 I said on another thread the other day that the Number 10 Martinez is looking for is right under our noses – Mirallas. He offers more goals and assists than Barkley and Naismith combined, plus he has a good understanding with Lukaku. It will get the best out of both of them. I hope we sign Lennon plus someone similar for the left, and leave Mirallas in the middle. He needs to sign a new contract though. We canÂ’t let him leave us on a free in 12 months. Commit now or sell him. Trevor Lynes 7 Posted 14/05/2015 at 22:48:45 It would definitely be worth a try to see him come on instead of Kone or even start up front alongside Lukaku with Kone on the bench to come on if needed. Our two Belgians provide virtually all the goals and Mirallas is terrific with free kicks too. Mirallas and Baines are the two best strikers of the ball in the squad. It is not a new striker we need, it is a midfield schemer who can pass accurately and provide assists. I wish we could find a young Paul Scholes! Terry Murphy 8 Posted 15/05/2015 at 00:32:38 Good God - some good news... might have to go and lie down. Scott Goin 9 Posted 15/05/2015 at 02:30:44 Mirallas is one of the few regular goalscorers on our team. It would suck to lose him. I hope what he says is true but IÂ’ll only believe it when he signs a new contract. ThereÂ’s no way we can go into next season with Mirallas still on his old deal. If he balks or wants a lot of money, weÂ’ll unfortunately have to sell him. Terence Leong 10 Posted 15/05/2015 at 03:41:50 Mirallas was tried (albeit not consistently) playing in the centre/upfront. I think there was a couple of games where he was either the striker, or just played off the striker.The fact is, he has modelled his game after players like Henry and Ronaldo, where they have to drift to the flanks to get the ball a little deeper, and then run at players.When he was upfront, his ability to twist & turn at speed is nullified. So playing upfront might not be the best position for him. William Hegarty 11 Posted 15/05/2015 at 08:02:08 Mirallas is inconsistent at times but gives us that added dimension when needed. Martinez needs a commitment from him. I agree with Scott as it is not feasible to leave him on the current deal and risk losing him for nothing. I really do feel he is working a deal to get out, thus why Martinez has used him sparingly in the last couple of games. No matter where we play him he is still far superior to the wingers / strikers we have at the club. Nick Entwistle 12 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:04:08 If he isnÂ’t getting offers from the top 4 then he wonÂ’t leave. Chelsea bought Codrado or whatever his name is, Man City can go out and get better, Man Utd have wingers and Bale on their radar and Arsenal have moved on. He could play for those sides, but like Remy, heÂ’d be understudy. But this just shows that if youÂ’re not in the top 4 this is as good a player as you get. Derek Thomas 13 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:18:05 Kevin has spoken out again how happy he is - aka, running out of time here lads, ffs make an offer - any offer, just get me the fuck out. Andrew Ellams 14 Posted 15/05/2015 at 10:40:11 HowardColeman Stones Jagielka Baines Besic McCarthy BarkleyLennon Mirallas AN Other LukakuProbably win the league and everything. Jeff Beaumont 17 Posted 15/05/2015 at 11:39:36 Andrew - fielding 12 against our opponents 11 would certainly help! Andrew Ellams 18 Posted 15/05/2015 at 11:49:16 Oops canÂ’t count. Best leave out one of the players behind Lukaku then Tony J Williams 19 Posted 15/05/2015 at 12:46:28 Said it before, hope he stays but not arsed if he goes.We will miss his goals but not his selfish plays and his greedy ball losing ways Callum McNab 20 Posted 15/05/2015 at 14:28:51 If he stays we certainly need a lot more from him. Coming on as a sub for the last 15 or only lasting till around the 60th minute (IÂ’ve lost count of the amount of times he got substituted around the 60-min mark) is no good. Also, he needs to be more of a team player; I donÂ’t mind him being selfish when he is in a genuine scoring opportunity, but I lost count of the amount of times when a square ball to Naismith or Lukaku in the box wouldÂ’ve been better than a shot from the edge with two defenders in the way. Fran Mitchell 21 Posted 15/05/2015 at 14:52:35 Mirallas plays well, we usually win. He is our most exciting player and one who can create something from nothing.He can also go missing, or be too greedy. Despite this, Everton with Mirallas are a more dangerous team than Everton without Mirallas.Lukaku, Mirallas and an other (winger/playmaker), with a midfield of Barkley, McCarthy and Besic/Barry, in terms of personnel is top notch. Whether the manager and coaching staff can make them reach their potential is another matter, Tom Bowers 22 Posted 15/05/2015 at 15:38:28 I am not so sure about Kev these days. He has finishing ability and a turn of pace but all too much loses possession when trying to beat a man. His injuries are also a concern and given that Everton have too few offensive options and that RM has said he wonÂ’t be looking at signing strikers the future looks grim in the goals department. Last season Kone was still battling fitness for a long time although to be honest heÂ’s not much. Nessie went off the boil after a few lively games. After EtoÂ’o left McGeady and Mirallas got injuries and what was an iffy season got worse. It is so obvious the striking department needs an upgrade but it now appears we have a manager just as stubborn as his predecessor. Winston Williamson 23 Posted 15/05/2015 at 15:36:42 IÂ’ve posted something similar before, but..we need two players for each position. This would be my squad next season:New Keeper / HowardColeman / New right back or youth understudyBaines / Garbutt (if he stays, if not Oviedo)Jags / New Central DefenderStones / Galloway or Browning (whoever is further developed)McCarthy / BesicNew Playmaker / LedsonNew Left Winger (Playmaker) / PienaarNew Right Winger / New Right WingerBarkley / New Number 10Lukaku / MirallasThatÂ’s seven new players. Four that can walk into our first team. This replaces the older guard and the useless players, but allows promotion from within too.Highly unrealistic, I agree. So, three new players are a realistic priority:New Player MakerNew Winger (right)New Central DefenderKeep Joel for another season to see if he can take the number one slot.Promote a right back from the youth set-up to understudy coleman.Bring a left winger in on loan to rotate with Pienaar.Bring a right winger in on loan to understudy new permanent right winger signing.Have Mirallas rotate between number 10 and second striker and keep Naismith as back up.Then sign the four additional players over the next 2 transfer windows. Rick Tarleton 25 Posted 15/05/2015 at 20:37:53 Mirallas hasnÂ’t asked the right question. Are WE happy with his dilettante attitude and his ridiculous aggrandising of his importance? Geoff Evans 26 Posted 16/05/2015 at 13:01:20 Probably the only player weÂ’ve got whose capable of being exciting. James Marshall 27 Posted 18/05/2015 at 23:09:57 Geoff, I find John Stones a delight to watch. Ball playing centre halves are like gold dust and Stones has it all in spades. ThereÂ’s very few things I enjoy more than a defender making a brilliant tackle, then striding out of defence with the ball.On Mirallas, we should be looking to keep him without a shadow of a doubt. Arrogant, selfish, full of himself - all the things half our squad should have but donÂ’t. Ross Barkley take note. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb