Martinez plots bid for Nigerian fullback

We cannot sell the best left-back in the Premier League and replace him with low-budget player. We might as well sign Stephen Ward. Weed a very good replacement... or just give Oviedo and Garbutt a chance.

We seem to get linked with every player in the world, who plays either left back or left wing back, whose contract is nearing it's expiry! I have also noticed that any player who has had previous association with Roberto either as manager, or who he has made inquiries about, is another source of wild speculation!

I, like most Evertonians, hope that Leighton stays. As for Fellaini, I know he is a great player, but he has too many off days that are probably linked to attitude!

I just wish it would all get sorted, so we can go forward!

We'd still need cover for this guy when he goes off to the African Cup every 2 years.

Completely agree with you Derek. I say keep Baines as long as he wants to stay, and end all this talk about his "replacements." Honestly, we're not going to find an adequate replacement for him with our budget, and also because he's probably in the top 5 of all LB playing right now.

Yes Derek. It seems like Fellaini is on his way. Personally, I've always liked him and think he'll be difficult to replace. Even on a quiet day he wins the ball far more than anyone else.

Derek,

How does Martinez being linked with a left back end up with you criticising Fellaini?

Has Fellaini been shagging half of the ToffeeWeb posters wives? Did you all take that song literally and now you regret it?

What next, we all turn on Mirallas because Deulofeu heads Europe in some wierd and obscure stat that means fuck all?

I think that we have got the ones that we want and will be keeping the players that we have apart from the odd loan deal that might come along before the window closes

Simon, yeah, i'd be pretty happy if things stay as they are now. Don't see the benefit of selling to buy with one week to go.

It's a world cup year, might be better if everyone just stays where they are guaranteed to play !

Seems far fetched to me. Just another agent hawking a player no one has vere heard of through the press

To be fair this lad looks useful. Good engine, has the skills and decent defensively. At that price could provide decent cover for Baines or Oviedo if he leaves.

I still think we are woefully short of a creative midfielder and an exciting striker if we are going to improve.

This isn't relevant to anything that's gone before but would just like to say I watched the Ferdinand testimonial and Celtic v Liverpool and am feeling much happier and confident

john 056. the window closes at the end of august

Paul 067, yeah but anyone we buy now has had zero pre-season. We'd be swapping prepared for unprepared - which might work out but is more likely to disrupt us for half the season imo.

If any team wants our best players then they pay what we want or we do what every other team is doing - Tell them the price - match it and you can speak to our player otherwise piss off.

Our chairman should be very vocal in this as far as I am concerned.
If we want £30 million for baines then he should come out and say it and not a penny less.

Moyes should be made to pay top dollar for any of our assets after the way he treated Everton.

Oliver, it doesn't matter what posturing BK does, he is one of the worst negotiators of all time. Remember Rooney's sale? BK came out with "not a penny less than £50M and we all know what subsequently happened. Moyes and the media continue to show us little respect. An established England player and the best left back in Europe will be on the plane next year (assuming England qualify). He doesn't need the move for money either as he can name his price at Everton.

Stand by for more BK bollocks and luvvieness as we wave Baines and Fellaini goodbye for at best £40m the pair of them. Subsequently leaving us to start our campaign even more under resourced than ever and scrabbling around to get poorer quality players in on the cheap.

BK Out !

Oviedo seems like a good enough replacement, I think if baines went there are more important areas to cover,
Like many evertonians though if we we had to generate money to freshen the squad I would sell felli and heitinga

Would prefer to keep both Baines and Fellaini but if one did have to go I would rather it was Fellaini.
We could then get a quality midfielder and striker with that money and be a stronger outfit.
Even if we kept both players I still think we need a quality striker - what we have is not good enough in my opinion.

Paul Low #067. The window closes Sept. 2nd They've yet to work out the actual minute. Could be 6.00pm or nearer to midnight.

Let's put an end to this nonsense. Give Baines a new contract, making him our highest earner by some way. No one can say he doesn't deserve it. Let him see out his career with us, and do everything we can to reward his loyalty with a trophy.

I'm probably in a minority of 1, but I do not think it would be that disastrous if Baines goes, he's 29, and worth around 20 million, we have Oviedo who I think is more than capable of stepping into his boots.
IF this rumour is true, then a £1.5 million player as cover for Oviedo will give Everton £18.5 million to spend on the CM that we so badly need.
I expect a barrage of abuse now but think about it, Baines will not last forever, how much will he be worth in 12 months time?

Kevin, Oviedo has impressed me a lot but Baines has been our best player for the last few years. I do see the sense in what you are saying but we would miss Baines a great deal given how much he creates for us.

Sam,

I understand that point too, it's a tricky situation either way, I just think if we are going to let either Fellaini or Baines, then I would sacrifice Baines purely based on age and the fact we already have adequate cover, and Baines value will plummet along with his fitness over the next 2 years, plus the amount we would get for him now.
Fellaini still has maximum sell on value for the next 4 years and would leave a gapping hole in our midfield if he left as we do not have any real cover there, and any new recruits would take time to settle in to that role, which in my opinion would be more detrimental to the team.

I think we should have a look at Aaron Creswell of Ipswich. He's a younger version of Baines, same size a s well, and he's ex-Tramere, and I think he's a local lad, so no problems settling in. Apparently there's a couple of Prem teams sniffing around.

We need to keep both players to have any chance off getting in the top four. Those who say Oviedo is a good replacement for Baines are living in a dream world — he couldn't lace Baines boots. I have watched all the pre-season games and Oviedo cannot defend to save his life. He is okay going forward but gives the ball away too much.

Or is that guy a competitor for Baines in the coming season? :-) I know we've got Oviedo, but why not a different fighter at the left back.

I think a lot of people need to remember that Everton is now a business. Business sense would be to sell Baines who is 28/29 as in reality his value will drop as he gets older.
We bought him for £6m so if we got £20-/+ that would be good business especially when we have Ovi and Garbutt.
Im not saying Id like to see Baines go as he is one of my favourite players but business is business.
I for one are finding it amusing Man Utd buying players now for very little resale value. RVP wont fetch £29m as in two years he'll be into his early 30's.
Same for Baines, if we sell him for £20M he wont bring that in 2/3 years time.

Selling Baines because he won't be worth as much in a few years is a ludicrous suggestion. We have a player who fits our motto, but some would rather have the money??? At the risk of sounding stupid, I don't get that logic.

Paul, like I said... it's business.

Were forgetting what the players want to do. I don't think Fellaini would think very long about the switch, he'd be off is my guess.

Baines? we haven't got a clue one way or another, but you know what they all say 'I want to play in the Champions League' so Baines will likely say the same! If Man Utd bid enough, they will be gone, that's my guess.

I don't want to sound like a 'doom merchant' but we certainly need some hard cash from somewhere. I agreed it doesn't make a lot of sense to sell two of your better players but sometimes there's no option.

I'm afraid we're pissing into the wind without a rich benefactor.

Do any of our antipodean fans on here know how good this Josh Brilliante is? Supposedly we are interested.

Please avoid obvious puns on the name.

I hear James that Liverpool are interested in his brother, Uselesse...

I knew you couldn't resist, Ross!

However James, Bill can only afford his cousin from Spain, Quito Ordinario.

It might be business Stu, but I just want to watch Everton play with the best players in the world.... and Baines is one of those.

I agree with those who have said that kenwright did not have to release a statement about the bids for our players.

The statement should have said that the players were not for sale if that was the case - clearly it is saying we want more money!

Just for once kenwright needs to grow some balls and tell it like it is....
Yes Fellainni is for sale but only at £££££.....? or forget it
No Baines is not for sale so forget that
This looks very much like another episode were Everton will end up a laughing stock!

Sorry my previous post was for another thread