THE SIGNS are good...

PICKFORD AND GARNER NEXT ON THE TO-DO LIST AFTER BLUES TIE DOWN TARKOWSKI

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

AMES Tarkowski has become the _ latest player to sign a new contract with Everton.

But who could be next on the list?

The news that the 32-year-old had penned a two-year extension to commit his future to the Blues through to the summer of 2028 was announced at noon on Wednesday. Tarkowski has become a key figure at Everton since joining on a Bosman-style free transfer in 2022 when he became a free agent at Burnley.

Tarkowski hasn’t missed a minute of the Blues’ nine matches in all competitions so far this term having returned from surgery on a hamstring injured suffering against Manchester City on April 19, which ended his sequence of 109 consecutive starts for the club in the Premier League.

The run included the unbridled scenes of celebration after the Mancunian scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Liverpool with the last kick of a ball from a home player to ensure the Blues did not leave Goodison Park with a losing record against their neighbours after more than 130 years of Merseyside Derby combat.

On penning his deal, Tarkowski said: “I’m super excited and proud to be an Everton player and to continue this journey. It’s been a crazy few years with some big lows and some massive highs.

“We've managed to get through those tough times and hopefully now we're on to more positive and exciting times ahead. I think the intention has been set out from the start of this season.

“I’ve loved every minute so far of working under the manager [David Moyes]. He has made it clear where we're going with this club. The results and performances have really improved in his time here and it does seem to be going in one direction.

“The reason I've signed is because I want to be a part of that. Now it's up to us as players to get on board and take us in that direction.”