The Rumour Mill

Yet another imminent Baines bid...

18/08/2012 |

Comments (54)

ESPN 'understands' Manchester United are considering a last attempt to sign Leighton Baines from Everton.

At a press conference on Friday, Ferguson said there would be no more signings unless "a certain player came available" in "one more position". That player is understood to be Baines, with United looking at a way to make the deal happen.

Ferguson is understood to have become a little perturbed again about the fact that an already overplayed Patrice Evra is United's only real option at left-back.

Original Source: ESPN Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Kane Dennison
030 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:15:38

Yes, because that all means he is now gonna buy Baines. Jog on, you have no chance. We don't need the money that badly that we will sell our most influential player for only £8mill when he is well worth £15mil plus (I personally think £20 mil at least). We still have the Rodwell money to splash.

Phil Sammon
035 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:26:02

Well Moyes says we don't have to sell.

I can't see Baines wanting to sit on the bench at Man U either.

Not buying this one

Keith Glazzard
036 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:21:59

Well, SAF said it, and it must be Baines? Probably, but the same report also referred to Rodwell as a first-choice player. Keep up EPNS!

I don't know who Baines' agent is, but that is where the main pressure on him will come from. With no evidence to support my gut feeling, I think we've got Baines and Fellaini for this season. But if we don't get into Europe? Probably not after that.

Richard Heppelstone
037 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:21:45

Yawn!!!!!!.......Bainsey will be scoring against Man Utd on Monday night. Additionally, Why would Moyes spend so much effort getting Pienaar back in order to renew the formidable partnership he and Bainsey have only to destroy that ambition at the last minute???? Will not happen.

David Barks
038 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:29:35

Can't see this happening. He's an established pro and in the England team. United aren't getting rid of Evra, doubt they would have a guy of his wages sit the bench. Why would Baines want to move and sit the bench instead of shining with Pienaar back in the team, and by all accounts a team being strengthened? I thought Baines had sort of made it known that he was happy here and didn't want to leave.

Karl Jones
039 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:24:41

Surely the transfer window should close before the season starts. It allows rich, unscruplious clubs to unsettle opponents players and teams just before they play them....According to this site, he told them he wasnt interested three weeks ago anyway. Just hope that is still the case, as I could only see this going ahead if Baines pushed for it to happen, but who knows whats going on.

Dan San
043 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:46:14

Would take £12M rising to £15M

... in 5 years time

Kevin Elliott
045 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:47:42

Stay with us Bainsey we love ya.
And if we get Mirallas, I can see something special happening this season.

Jeremy Benson
046 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:50:46

Non-story, as fergie clearly already hints at the fact that he isn't necessarily available. May as well stick it in the daily mail.

Paul Gladwell
048 Posted 18/08/2012 at 15:52:42

I wish I was as confident as you lads, this is Everton we are talking about and the bank rule, I am dreading deadline day as I would not be surprised whatsoever if Baines or someone else was sold, especially if they show some good form prior to then.

Tony Cheek
054 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:04:55

Oh shit! just when we thought we were home and dry!

Phil Davies
056 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:07:26

Doubt it, United need a central midfielder more than anything now.

Any news on Niang? Seems to have gone a bit quiet since he first came in for the trail.

Keith Glazzard
057 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:08:23

Tony - we got Pienaar on loan last January in the last 20 minutes.

Old Arab proverb - 'count your children after the measles'.

Paul Mackie
058 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:11:34

What utter nonsense. This only even a story because we're playing Man U next.

Ian Bennett
059 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:27:04

Perhaps we can expect a £5m bid and the mirror was right all along. £20m minimal or save your fax paper.

Jim Harrison
060 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:31:37

Surely the position that Utd need cover is midfield? £20 million or fuck off.

Ian Bennett
061 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:36:04

West brom 3 Liverpool 0, Agger sent off.

Chris Matheson
062 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:45:40

Any sales will be down to Kenwright not Moyes, and hopefully Kenwright has staved off the banks for another six months.

Expect Utd to come knocking in January, with a deadline day sale and "the player wanted to leave" line being rolled out yet again.

Fingers crossed we will be ok till then.

Keith Glazzard
063 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:52:00

Well, at least we can only be below the RS on goal difference Tuesday morning.

And we won't be.

Ian Bennett
064 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:54:22

69 percent possession. Does picking the ball out of your net count? More importantly how many times did they hit the bar? I assume you get double points for that skill given the way they went on about it last season.

Rodgers will be on the Sky panel by Christmas.

Steve Brown
067 Posted 18/08/2012 at 17:00:36

rubbish, but relishing the new season with the shite battered 3-0.

Andy Crooks
069 Posted 18/08/2012 at 16:57:37

David Moyes said that the sale of Rodwell was not essential. The sale of Baines would be unthinkable and unacceptable. It won't happen.

Drew Shortis
083 Posted 18/08/2012 at 17:34:41

I think there is a realistic chance of Baines joining Man Utd if Everton don't finish in a European place this season. I wouldn't blame him if he did leave under such circumstances.

It is only natural that a player aspiring to be the regular England left back would want to be playing in Europe. I don't think we need to sell now and I'm confident Baines is happy to stay and be successful at Everton.

The team needs to make sure they have a good campaign and finish high in the table to justify the faith the likes of Fellaini and Baines are showing. It's good to see such highly rated players showing some loyalty and not agitating for a move as so many players do nowadays.

Kevin Day
087 Posted 18/08/2012 at 17:56:31

I think everyone is forgetting the increase in Sky payments that all clubs got on 1 August. The increase on its own was enough to satisfy the banks, which was why Moyes did not have to sell Rodwell, but because he did he has been able to spend all of the money received from the sale.

Baines will not be going anywhere anytime soon. So sit down, open a bevvie, sit back and gloat over the Shite losing 3-0.

Ian Edwards
104 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:04:11

Baines will go just like rooney and like rodwell. Mancini was right when he said rodwell had joined a club that plays to win. If we beat utd it will be an unglorious nicking a goal and hanging on with eleven men behind the ball. In big games moyes is a rabbit caught in the headlights. A big rabbit.

Peter Laing
106 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:11:09

Fucking hell Ian the voice of optimism - not, to suggest that we will go into Monday's game and surrender is churlish, any win against Utd regardless of how we achieve it would be a most welcome start.

Ian Edwards
113 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:26:47

Peter laing

I was being the voice of honest reason..and the voice of 10 years experience of having the rabbit as manager. And you know it.

Keith Glazzard
115 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:29:59

Peter Laing

Do you remember 'relegation day'? The only time in my 40 years.

Get on your knees and give thanks.

Keith Glazzard
117 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:35:33

Beg your pardon Peter, I got a bit emotional there and fucked the whole thing up, so -

Ian Edwards - see above.

Ian Edwards
121 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:46:31

Keith Glazzard.

Sorry, I don't do cryptic crosswords. What the fuck you on about?

Keith Glazzard
124 Posted 18/08/2012 at 19:49:40

Ian Edwards – let me recommend cryptic crosswords for sharpening the mind.

'A big rabbit' – would that be Harvey or Dony Darko's?

As a recent Evertonian I guess you don't remember being a goal away from relegation? Not something you would want to live through again.

Moyes has kept us, bar one season, well away from that. Even then we had three games in hand.

Big rabbit – O like that.

Chris James
138 Posted 18/08/2012 at 20:13:36

Sorry, really can't see this one. Baines isn't going to agitate for a move because:

i) He's one of the rare loyal decent footballers and doesn't appear to have the appetite to be Berty Big Bollocks.
ii) He's a genuine guaranteed starter here, not to mention club hero at Everton (as opposed to being an effective back-up at Utd)
iii) He's getting a shout to fulfill his international ambitions too and we have a shout at getting back to Europe (not CL admittedly).

Hence, this will need to be sanctioned/pushed by the club, but again that makes no real sense. I know we're hard up, but we've just recouped £15-20M, lightened the wage bill and are about to get a further injection through increased TV money.

Selling Baines would massively disrupt the team, create massive friction with the manager and turn the fans that had been placated by recent acquisitions. He'd also be hugely difficult to replace and likely hamstring any chance of challenging for Europe.

Kevin Day
140 Posted 18/08/2012 at 20:53:13

Ian @104, Man U have only beaten us once at home in the last 4 years, Just saying.

Kevin Day
141 Posted 18/08/2012 at 20:54:44

Chris James 138, The voice of reason

Phil Sammon
142 Posted 18/08/2012 at 21:01:36

Man Utd are after one more player - but it's not Leighton Baines.

Alex Sinclair
170 Posted 18/08/2012 at 22:51:44

Ian Edwards. The voice of honest reason? Don't make me laugh. We're having our best transfer window in ages, but all it takes is one of SAF's mind game quotes designed to unsettle Baines and it's got you seeing your glass almost empty.

There won't be anyone else going out unless it's one of the kids on loan but we will be bringing at least one more apart from Mirallas in. Our 'big rabbit' keeps exceeding all realistic expectations on a shoestring, yet you probably think he should be delivering CL footy every year with one hand tied behind his back. It's okay to feel optimistic, it really is.

Mike Green
175 Posted 19/08/2012 at 00:05:10

The talk is for the Glasers flotation. Can't say they're not looking - no ambition. Can't saying they are - look weak. Looking for a player, but only the right player, says they're very happy with their lot but always room for improvement. Puts 2 cents on the share price which would buy us a new left back.

Baines will be in Blue all season, and more.

I'm drunk so I'm now going to have a sing song - la la la la Lana oops la la la las la la bloody s next to a la la la la la la la la

Andy Crooks
180 Posted 19/08/2012 at 00:53:53

Mike's on, Get your coat and slip of before he sees you.

Mike Green
184 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:04:09

Gotcha Andy! Come back here.....

I'll shake your hand over the web for the coming season..... Going to try and think of an emoticon to illustrate this..

> <

No, that just looks like squinting

E 3

Boy band...

That could be it.....

Mike Green
185 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:11:20

No....! Looks nothing like it!!!!

Pat Finegan
194 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:31:57

The "one more player" SAF is after is Tony Hibbert.

Si Cooper
196 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:36:08

l>0j0
U

Does that work as a comradely salute, Mike?

Si Cooper
197 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:45:30

The U moved!

Mike Green
198 Posted 19/08/2012 at 01:57:46

To Picasso maybe Si, what the fucks that?! : )

Si Cooper
200 Posted 19/08/2012 at 02:08:34

Aren't all emoticons pretty much Impressionistic?

The U should be under the j to make a smile..... no, you're right, its crap! I'll get my coat and follow Andy's advice. :)

Eric Myles
205 Posted 19/08/2012 at 03:38:57

Kevin #087, the increased Sky money doesn't come until next season.

Matt Traynor
244 Posted 19/08/2012 at 09:27:05

The story is that Baines is not interested, at all. Everton would have done a deal, at the right price, if the player was keen, but he's not.

To some on here that will be a lack of ambition from the player. Maybe he's happy where he is, rather than duking it out with Evra, who is by no means past it.

Andy #069, I find it hard to believe we didn't need to sell someone, but if we are signing Mirallas and Niang, then I'd be interested to see if we can get to the deadline without any major outgoings.

Ray Roche
248 Posted 19/08/2012 at 09:35:21

Speaking of Niang, this is the translation from Francefootball regarding his trial at Finch Farm. Looks like we,or AC, may have asked for a loan.

A:The Mbaye Niang drama continues. According to our colleagues from West-France l' SM Caen Senegalese striker left a new trial in England. After Arsenal, where he has already made a trial, young 17-year-old player has been tested in the week by Everton. If no offer closes n' has yet been made, the discussions are ongoing. Bas-Norman leaders have already refused a request for loan l 'AC Milan for l' attacking 2 goals in 23 matches in Ligue 1 last season.

Brent Stephens
261 Posted 19/08/2012 at 10:52:09

Ray #248 is there an English translation?!

Ray Roche
279 Posted 19/08/2012 at 12:10:52

Brent.261

Ho Bloody Ho

Matt Traynor
322 Posted 19/08/2012 at 13:38:51

The player Man U are after is apparently Kaka.

Karl Jones
441 Posted 19/08/2012 at 20:35:21

According to Sky, Man Utd are on the verge of signing a left back...not Baines though, it's Buttner from Vitesse Arnhem.

Steve Jones
467 Posted 19/08/2012 at 21:51:27

Yes they have signed Buttner, subject to a medical; looks like Baines is clear now. Apparently they spent some of the Baines budget on over-paying for Van Persie....

Jimmy Sørheim
499 Posted 19/08/2012 at 23:36:39

When willthe media stop dumping on Everton every chance they get?

The Baines so-called transfer ran out of steam weeks ago, yet ESPN still insist on dragging spirits down by stretching a comment made by Sir Alex further then humanly possible.

Of course it is a given that "the certain player" is Baines; how obvious it is that they will drag the Baines story on for ages. It makes me crazy, we live in a sick media world, very sick indeed.

Cut throat bitch is the way of the media now, this example of Baines being dragged into a general comment just goes to show how desperate they really are.

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