The Rumour Mill

Everton make Butland approach

31/08/2012 |

Comments (18)

Everton have opened talks with Birmingham City regarding a surprise move for England U21 goalkeeper, Jack Butland, according to Sky Sports and the BBC.

With all eyes on the imminent announcement of Bryan Oviedo's arrival from FC Copenhagen and the hoped-for signing of a central midfielder mentioned by Steve Round earlier in the day, the reported interest in Butland comes as something of a surprise.

Sky suggest that the Blues have offered the Midlanders £6m, paid in instalments, and a natural possibility could be that the Club will offer the loan the 19-year-old back to St Andrews to continue his development while Tim Howard retains his iron grip on the first-choice slot at Goodison Park.

The Echo's Greg O'Keeffe, however, says that the Blues have ended their interest due to City's high asking price, thought to be £8m.

Original Source: Sky Sports Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Gary Mortimer
602 Posted 31/08/2012 at 19:54:22

Why?

Surely we could find a better way to spend £6m (in instalments) when we're supposed to be skint?

Steven Twine
604 Posted 31/08/2012 at 19:57:39

What a signing this would be. This would provide howard with healthy competition. Also no worries about starting with him if howards injured, can anyone say the same about mucha

Ian Campbell
606 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:13:23

Maybe kenwright has been saving some money via other operational costs.

Would be very happy if this comes off, other than right back we will have strength throughout. This kid will have 12-14years on howard too so it represents good business.

Mark Dunford
607 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:14:58

Agree completely with Steve. A problem to fix We need serious goalkeeping cover and there seems to be little reason to think Mucha is capable of providing this. It does seem a little pie in the sky, but who knows. We can all live in hope. The squad already seems far stronger than the team that started last September after we lost Arteta. More cover

Matthew Johnson
609 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:23:05

The smart thing to do is to buy Butland but part of the deal being him stay at Birmingham on loan

Best of both worlds for Everton and Birmingham

Paul David
610 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:20:22

I did not see this one coming, I would be made up if we pull it off. I've not seen him play but by all accounts the lads going to be shit hot. Loan him out for a couple of seasons then he should be ready to be our number 1 and we will get at least 10 years out of him.

Has Kenwright sold one of his kidneys to fund all these transfers?

Kiern Moran
612 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:27:12

Is Moyes putting an extra spoon of sugar in his coffee nowadays. I take it having completed the first ten year plan to turn us into a regular top ten side his new ten year plan is a decade of premiership heigmony?

Bob Willis
613 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:32:30

'Has Kenwright sold one of his kidneys to fund all these transfers'

Brill!!!

Lynn Thorne
616 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:42:15

Talk Sport said earlier that they'd spoken to Butland and he wasn't moving

Phil Sammon
617 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:52:16

Pay £6 million for him and loan him back for a season?!?! Have some of you lost it?!

I very much doubt we have that money in the first place, installments or not. But £6million on a player that won't play for us in the next 12 months?! Crackers.

Mucha is garbage though - a decent experienced GK would be nice. Not some kid who needs games.

Jim Knightley
621 Posted 31/08/2012 at 21:10:50

Phil..im partly with U on this one...but on the other hand this guy looks fantastic and everyone and his mother has been linked with him. We are arguably trying to buy the best teenage goalkeeping prospect in the world. We really need a cm though.

Paul David
623 Posted 31/08/2012 at 21:13:31

Phil

In goal keeping terms Butland is a baby and not ready to be our number 1 yet but if he turns out as expected he will prove to be a bargin. The alternative is to wait a couple of years till he can come straight in as number 1 but would probably cost twice as much and have a lot more clubs wanting his signature.

Phil Sammon
625 Posted 31/08/2012 at 21:18:18

Why do you think we need a CM, Jim?

It's like this supposed move for Essien. I don't get it. Is he wanting to drop Gibson? I honestly think Gibson is better than Essien these days. So is Essien happy on our bench rather than Chelsea's?

Phil Sammon
626 Posted 31/08/2012 at 21:31:38

Looks like he's off to Madrid now anyway. Essien that is

Noel Early
633 Posted 31/08/2012 at 22:08:22

The Butland move is not gonna happen now which is a shame: this kid is going to be a top keeper for years and I'd be delighted to have him keep Tim Howard on his toes. I'd love this signing personally.

Phil Sammon
636 Posted 31/08/2012 at 22:26:22

No bid made for Butland anyway according to Clarke. Sky Sports struggling for stories.

David Pearl
637 Posted 31/08/2012 at 22:54:38

Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe hits wiki!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadis_Odjidja-Ofoe

classic

Yessar Daou
660 Posted 01/09/2012 at 01:43:15

Butland is already in the England squad! He would have been a great signing, I don't think this will be the end of our interest in him. Well, I hope not.

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