United manager David Moyes has been frustrated in the club’s efforts to sign Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas and will be hoping they can clinch the deals for the Everton duo. PHOTO: AFP
Everton confirmed yesterday they have turned down bids from Manchester United for two of their players, believed to be Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini and England defender Leighton Baines.
“Everton can confirm that it has received bids from Manchester United for two players. Those bids were immediately rejected out of hand as derisory and insulting,” read an official statement released by the Merseyside club.
“The club did not make public these details as it was vital that (manager) Roberto Martinez’s preparations for the opening game of the Premier League season were not disrupted in any way.”
The statement came after several media outlets in the UK, including the BBC, reported that former Everton manager David Moyes had lodged a £28 million bid to bring the pair to Old Trafford, including £16 million for Fellaini.
A £23.5 million release clause in Fellaini’s contract expired at the end of July.
The Premier League champions are believed to have offered the same amount for 28-year-old Baines – £12 million – that they bid in June when the offer was flatly rejected.
Everton claim Moyes made an unwritten pact with the club not to try to sign their players when he left in the summer to succeed Alex Ferguson.
Moyes signed both players for Everton, paying Wigan £6 million for Baines in August 2007 and signing the lanky Fellaini for a then club record £15 million from Belgian club Standard Liege in September 2008.
Moyes has been frustrated in the transfer market with attempts to bring Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas to United so far proving unsuccessful, while England striker Wayne Rooney appears to want to leave Old Trafford for Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports reported that Newcastle United rejected a £10 million bid from Arsenal for French midfielder Yohan Cabaye yesterday.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2013.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
1724219889-0/BeFunky-collage]_____-(32)1724219889-0-270x192.webp "us cautions india against escalation following pahalgam attack")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ