The Rumour Mill

Heitinga speculation persists

23/07/2012 |

Comments (42)

Accompanying the hum of Tim Cahill rumours today has been speculation that John Heitinga could also be leaving Goodison this summer, lent further credence by The Guardian:

A more likely [than Baines] big-name departure from Goodison this summer could be Johnny Heitinga, the Dutch international and the club's current Player of the Year who is a target for several European clubs.

Heitinga has been linked with a move to Turkey where Joseph Yobo finally looks bound after protracted negotiations with Fenerbahçe reportedly came to a close this weekend. Both the Yellow Canaries and Besiktas as well as Spartak Moscow have been mooted as possible destinations for the Dutchman and even though he told evertontv viewers at the weekend that he won't be going anywhere, the whispers on Merseyside are that Turkey is the more likely.

With 12 months remaining on his contract (with an option to extend the deal for a further year), Heitinga is unlikely to command his full value in terms of transfer fee and the rumours suggest Everton will receive only £4.5m.

Original Source: The Guardian Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Peter Hall
413 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:33:23

I think this would be all right. We can't keep Jags on the bench for long and he and Distin are top notch in their different ways. Duffy needs to be involved , we need another CB for cover, but to be brutally honest Distin Jags and Heitinga is too much riches in one area when we are short of riches in other areas.

And while I trust the attitudes of Jags and Distin 100% I can't quite say the same for Jonny

Ben Jones
417 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:41:10

If we wanna go back to crap football then play Jags and Distin in centre defence.

Yes, both good defenders but you'll get some sore necks if you follow the blues home and away every week.

Do not want this to happen, Heitinga is an important player for us.

Phil Sammon
419 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:42:53

I really like Jonny. He's been better than Jags recently too. It's a tough one really. I think he likes playing for us and just last week he said he's 'going nowhere'.

It's hard to imagine Distin having much more than one season at the top. I think it's worth hanging onto JH. It's also nice to have a CB that can play a pass

Andy Crooks
420 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:46:29

Exactly, Ben. When we play well Heitinga playing the ball out of defence plays a big part in it.

Paul David
423 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:49:03

I agree with Peter on this. In a perfect world, we would keep them all but how can we justify having 3 top centre halves plus a very good prospect while we're woefully short in other areas.

Mark Riding
425 Posted 23/07/2012 at 23:59:15

Are we clearing the decks for Moyes' new contract...

Trevor Lynes
431 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:11:20

We must hang on to Baines and Jags....the foreign players are here for moolah and thats a fact despite the feelings of some fans.

Cahill is different as he was already living in England, likewise Distin.

BUT most are making money and will move wherever its available (I did the same when I was working in the middle east).

Most do not mean to settle in Britain at the end of their careers and a footballers life is short.

That is why the British players should be kept so long as they are worth their place in the squad.

I wish Timmy all the best and hope he lights up the MLS. He has been a bargain buy and given great service.

I really hope he remains an Evertonian at heart as Im sure he will.

Ed Fitzgerald
432 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:16:59

Heitinga is a far better player than Jagielka and always has been. Moyes should have sold Jagielka to Arsenal when he had the chance.

Keith Glazzard
433 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:13:02

The idea that Moyes wouldn't have four centre halves in his first team squad, small as it is, is ridiculous. Unless John Heitinga wants away, he'll be with us for a fighting season.

Mark Riding
434 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:23:35

Keith.. Davie Weir !

Paul David
436 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:24:14

Keith, I would swap a centre half for a winger. Last time I checked we had none of those.

Si Cooper
448 Posted 24/07/2012 at 00:43:03

Agree with Keith (433). A couple of injuries and everyone would be bleating about letting a valuable player go. Jags has had a serious injury and Buzz can't go on forever (can he?).

Only to be considered if the money is sufficient to bring in a back-up player and strengthen elsewhere.

Peter Thistle
457 Posted 24/07/2012 at 02:11:02

Even though he had a crappy Euro 2012 he is still a quality player and hopefully he stays with us. He adds a bit of class to the back four that none of the others have.

Also after losing Cahill it could be damaging to the morale in the dressing room if we lose Johnny too.

Andy Sommer
468 Posted 24/07/2012 at 03:53:49

Interesting one this. If it does come off, would that see Jack Rodwell moving back to his former position as a centre-back?? If so, with both he and Shane Duffy, we have potential cover if Jonny leaves.

Anto Byrne
475 Posted 24/07/2012 at 05:01:17

The Duffy-Heitinga combo worked well so for me it would be the older Distin who makes major errors (his backpass in in the FA Cup semi-final was schoolboy stuff) Nice problem to have though. Now we need a goalscoring midfielder so why not Donovan? He can't be worth more than say £4m at 31.

Anto Byrne
482 Posted 24/07/2012 at 05:51:02

Mark 434 maybe Stubbsy can pull on his boots as well.

Noel Early
500 Posted 24/07/2012 at 07:32:05

Mark 425
I think you may have hit the nail on the head; Davie needs a new contract.

Matthew Lovekin
508 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:09:41

If Johnny does only have 12 months left on his contract, this is simple. Offer him a new contract to sign now. If he does, then brilliant, if not, we need to move him on now.

Drew O'Neall
511 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:18:20

Anto 475

Distin had a spotless season apart from one error in the semi. Good attitude too.

Paul Gladwell
514 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:26:34

Jesus, we have people moaning about the size of our squad and now some agree to selling our best player last season after already releasing around six or seven first team squad players from last seasons list, an injury or two and we are fucked.
It`s all well and good mentioning Rodwell to slip in there but what experience does he have there? Moyes has shown his hand in that in the past by playing Hibbert or Neville in the middle so he is not going to throw Rodwell there.

Sam Hoare
515 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:29:36

How has he been allowed to run his contract down to 12 months? Surely we have learnt from the Pienaar saga no?

If with 2 years left a good player does not want to extend then get him on the market so you can sell him for full whack and get a replacement in!!

Not sure how I feel about Johnny. Individually I see him as a decent defender but not much better than Jags. He is prone to poor positioning and gets turned easily (look at WC). However, there is no denying our defense has looked stronger both with and without the ball with him in it.

Good as he has looked i'm not quite sure we can rely on Duffy yet as a Premiership starter week in week out. He's only had a handful of games at that level (anyone remember Peter Clarke?). Distin is getting on and can't last forever so if Johnny does go I would suggest bringing in another CB.

Erik Dols
518 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:45:44

Sam Hoare (#515) as I read it we have an option for another year, so effectively Heitinga still has two years on his contract. Now indeed is the time to either renew his contract or sell him for a decent fee. Can't see him leaving for the reported 4,5 mil.

I watched the WC in 2010 and I can't remember Johnny "got turned easily" in that tournament BTW.

Matt Traynor
519 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:48:18

Sam #515, it will depend on the nature of the one-year option, and who / what can trigger it. If the club can trigger it, then it's as good as done. Man Utd did likewise to Berbatov to stop him leaving on a free this summer, and try to get a small fee for him.

I don't know if the club have tried to extend his contract before this point. If I recall, he came in on big money at that time (though since eclipsed by Fellaini's extension) and it could be he's seeking parity, the usual shuffling the pennies around when it comes to Goodison finances. Must be interesting to be the person responsible for the budgets in that place...

John Crook
520 Posted 24/07/2012 at 08:47:12

He doesnt have 12 months left he has 14 months. He signed a 5-year contract in 2009 meaning he is here until summer 2014. I'm sure he will be offered a new deal during the course of this season if both parties are happy with the way things are going.

Phil Sammon
533 Posted 24/07/2012 at 09:30:12

This talk of Duffy coming into the side may be a bit premature. I like the lad but I honestly think Davey Weir can shift better. The guy is painfully slow. I don't know if that is a problem that can be rectified either

Mike Rourke
556 Posted 24/07/2012 at 10:54:06

Don't understand any of the negativity towards Heitinga. Our player of the season lest we forget. In a totally different class to both Jags and Distin. At least as good at defending as those two plus he can actually pass the ball and doesn't panic in possession.

I hope this clear-out we're having means he gets offered a new contract.

Him, Baines, Fellaini and Jelavic are our key players.

Mess around selling the rest of the squad if needs be but those four are critical to us standing any chance of success this season.

Phil Sammon
558 Posted 24/07/2012 at 11:10:29

Just heard the Indonesia tour is off. What's all that about?! A real pre-season spanner!

John Winfield
562 Posted 24/07/2012 at 11:33:16

Heitinga and Distin is by far our most solid CB partnership. I'm a fan of Jags, but he wasn't at his best last season and, for whatever reason, we simply looked better as a whole team with Heitinga and Distin at the back.

I can't understand people being so casual about the possibility of Heitinga leaving. He was our best player last season!

Barry Stevens
573 Posted 24/07/2012 at 11:59:36

I remember Peter Clarke,Sam. He was one of those players that people who went to games knew was crap but the TV watchers, internet bloggers claimed to be the next best thing. To be fair to the guy I think Wally Walter didn't help him by playing out of position at right back. Last I can remember he's now at Huddesfield.

As for Johnny we do play better football with him at the back but I think Jags and Distin better defenders.Its a tough one to call.

Martin Mason
576 Posted 24/07/2012 at 12:11:40

I believe it would be a real negative action if we sell Heitinga, he is exactly what we need. We don't only need squad quality to push for better things, we also need quality to stay where we are.

Seamus Murphy
586 Posted 24/07/2012 at 12:39:43

Of the three CB's we have Heitinga is easily the best. I'm really surprised at how many would be happy to let him go. Personally I cannot stand watching Jagielka play and if we had to sell any of the three it would be him that I'd let go.

James Stewart
598 Posted 24/07/2012 at 13:35:41

Selling Heitinga would be madness sign up to another contract quick!

He's loved here and obviously loves playing for us. We need characters like him on the field.

Anthony Hawkins
599 Posted 24/07/2012 at 13:36:13

In an ideal world, I'd build the defense around Heitinga and Baines. As Heitinga clearly isn't keen to sign a new contract, options are limited and by keeping him for another year, we lose any money we could get for him.

Offer Heitinga a new contract now - if he rejects, sell him.

Our strongest team involves Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini, Gibson and Jalevic (plus Pienaar and Donovan) and they are the players we should be building around.

John Sankey
600 Posted 24/07/2012 at 13:34:01

I agree with you, Seamus, Jagielka is painfully shite when the ball is at his feet. My dad calls him Beckenbauer because he thinks he can play 60-yard balls every time he gets it. Should have got rid to Arsenal when we had the chance.

Steve Smith
603 Posted 24/07/2012 at 13:16:16

Should of took the money for Jags last season, Heitinga is a class defender and one that we should be looking to keep.
As far as I can remember JH signed a five year contract in Sept 2009, that means he's got just over two years left on his current deal.

Jamie Barlow
612 Posted 24/07/2012 at 14:47:55

We have 4 good centre halves in Jags, Duffy, Distin and Johnny and in my opinion all the other 3 play better when partnered with JH.

Duffy isn't quite ready for a full season and Distin is at the stage where he's only getting offered 1 year deals so can't see him being around much longer.

We need to buy young hungry players and keep as many of our own as we can, not selling our best for under £5 million.

Jimmy Sørheim
628 Posted 24/07/2012 at 15:33:04

Heitinga is the best playing defender we have. Jags is a great last ditch tackler and Distin is good all round but getting old. We need both Heitinga and Jagielka, otherwise Duffy will not fit in. Long term Distin will retire and we are best off keeping Heits and Jags. I would not put any energy into this chit chat, the media is just spinning wildly.

Tony Dove
677 Posted 24/07/2012 at 17:58:44

Jags and JH have different strengths but I would always take the defender with pace rather than one who passes the ball a bit better.I know the crowd like Heitinga's pyscho character but I think he is very much in the mercenary mould.The Dutch soon binned him in the Euros and if we get a reasonable offer we should follow suit.

Roman Sidey
726 Posted 24/07/2012 at 20:55:50

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Heitinga should be a our captain. Not in the future, but now.

He's class, and has a bit of an ego. An ego that, I think, would be catered to at a club like ours by being top dog.

Offer him 4/5 years and Pip's arm-band. He'll sign.

Jags has gone from solid performer to absolute shite and won't come back to his best.

Brian Bates
728 Posted 24/07/2012 at 21:13:05

Erik @ 518

Jonny got made a fool of by Mario Gomez at WC

Still shouldn't sell as he's our best cb

Peter Warren
734 Posted 24/07/2012 at 21:34:06

We have 3 established centre halves and people advocate selling our best one for £4.5m. Distin at 31 cost 6m from a team going into administration. Makes no sense to me

Roy Midd
933 Posted 25/07/2012 at 17:11:28

Hi everyone, I'm new to the scene... some good comments. Just a quickie for now:

Seems like we let players go for next to nothing: Heitinga at 28, a full Dutch international quoted at £4 to £5M?!?

Come on, Bill — at least the £6.5M we paid for him... then give the money to Moyesie.

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