Marco Silva has told Yannick Bolasie there is little prospect of him playing for Everton this season as Crystal Palace consider a move for their former winger.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo international surprised Everton on Monday when he activated a break clause in a season-long loan deal with Aston Villa to return to Merseyside. The 29-year-old, who struggled to secure a regular starting place at the Championship club, did not inform Silva in advance of his decision and adds an extra £70,000 to Everton’s weekly wage bill.

Bolasie indicated he returned to restart his career in the Premier League but that appears unlikely under Silva. He may get that opportunity at Palace, who sold him to Everton for £25m in 2016 and are weighing up a reunion on loan this month. Middlesbrough and China are also possible destinations for a player who finds himself behind Richarlison, Bernard, Ademola Lookman and Theo Walcott as Silva’s wide options.

The Everton manager said: “It is a possibility of course [another loan]. Until now we have had no enquiries. We will do what is the best solution for him and us as a club. We have four wingers in our squad and we are happy with them. What I don’t want is for Bolasie not to play again. It doesn’t mean I have already decided what will happen. Let’s see what will happen at the end of the market. When he took the decision to come back we didn’t expect it, even though he has that option in his contract.”

When it was put to Silva that Bolasie is unlikely to find game time at Everton, the manager replied: “For sure, he knows. I took that decision last summer, because I realised it would be difficult for him to get the minutes he wants.”

Everton must sell to buy in this window and Bolasie’s salary is an additional obstacle to signings, although Silva has dismissed the idea of Idrissa Gana Gueye joining Paris Saint-Germain. “We didn’t have one offer,” the manager said. “Not one club made one offer for Gana, official offer, and nothing to our club. He is focused on our club.”