Everton News
Battle to Keep Donovan is Over
Everton faced an uphill battle to persuade the MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy to lengthen Landon Donovan's loan spell, although the player had made it clear he wanted to remain on Merseyside for another month.
Under the terms of the 10-week agreement signed in January, Donovan is due to report for training in California on Monday 15 March but David Moyes and the player have made clear their desire for the American international to extend his stay to 15 April.
"I have told the Galaxy what I want," Donovan said. "They know what is going on. I speak to [Galaxy general manager Bruce Arena] fairly often and at this point it is a conversation the two clubs must have. I cannot end the season here, so I would have to go back on 15 April at the very latest.
"Both Everton and the Galaxy know I would like to stay, but logistically it is harder than just saying I want to or I am going to stay. There are a lot of factors involved, and we will see what the Galaxy want. I think we will have a lot more information this week." Donovan's American employers have been unequivocal in their determination to see the player return home on 15 March, with Arena reiterating the point over the weekend. "We are not interested [in extending the loan]," he said. "We are being consistent with everything we have said all along."
Sources at Everton acknowledge the club face an uphill struggle in talks this week to retain Donovan's services, such is the Galaxy's desire to honour the original terms of the loan deal, but the prospect of a wholesale strike by the MLS Players' Union after talks over a new working rights agreement broke down offers at least one glimmer of hope.
"If we did not have a league going on we would certainly entertain the idea of allowing Landon to stay there," Arena admitted.
Original Source: The Telegraph
