Fellaini release clause expired two weeks ago

So, Martinez has confirmed thaf Fellaini's buy-out clause expired on July 31st.

I bet Moyes and Utd have bid below £20m, and we have said we want £30m now.

My guess is Fellaini will be a Man Utd player come the 2nd Sept. and we will bring someone in last minute to replace him - banking around £10m in the process.

Is this a snidey comment against RM:

"Martinez has confirmed that the £23m buyout clause in Fellaini’s [contract] expired on July 31, although there are suggestions that it only ran out over the last 24 hours."

Or is this just jurnos covering their arses since they'd put about 15 August as being the date?

I wouldn't read too much into Michael, to me it seems more like "Journalists In 'Too Lazy To Find Out The Truth So Making It Up As They Go Along' Shocker!"

Obviously David Moyes must have been aware of the date that the clause ran out and we can only think that he doesn't fancy Felli or he would have bought him sooner? Especially as the papers are now saying the release clause was for a knock-down price.

Good news... although bad if you fall into the "now he'll be sold for pennies" brigade.

Bring on Norwich!!!

I just wish the whole thing could be sorted one way or the other! By what I have seen of Fellaini recently, he has his mind 'elsewhere' and allegedly declared, to have wanted a dream move away! Not exactly encouraging news or what fans want to hear! Even before all this transfer speculation started, doubtlessly a class player, but too often did not produce it on a regular basis!

I hope I am wrong, but can envisage a last minute melee and we end up with no time to find a replacement!

Felliani's mind can be where ever he wants but the fact remains as Heitinga has found out in the last 12 months if no one matches the clubs valuation you are going knowhere son! That valuation was apparently 23 million up to 31st July, now that date is over I would prefer the club come out and state that his market value is now 30 million and not a penny less.

While this may be deemed as the statement of a selling club it will send a message to anyone thinking they can wait until 31st August and come in with a offer less than the clause. From Felliani's point of view if he doesn't get his move he will quickly refocus on playing well, it is a World Cup year after all.

Martinez isn't concerned at the moment because nobody has bid for him. He'll be very concerned if a bid does come in with Kenwright's previous. Hopefully Martinez will put his foot down if a bid comes in too late to find a replacement. If a late bid does come in, we should ask for a huge transfer fee or tell said bidder to fuck off.

I think we can safely assume that Fellaini's team (agent and daddykins) will have been hawking him around Europe and England since last season...They will also have made clubs aware of the clause.

The difficulty now is that as no-one matched the value of that clause then they're unlikely to come in above it - however I know I stand to be proved wrong if a club bids at this stage.. but I honestly can't see it

The problem with Fellaini and to an extent - some or our other midfielders, is that they are so inconsistent that they get a huge degree of criticism.

Look at Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar, Gibson...all capable of being world beaters on any given day - however for some reason they fail to deliver on a consistent basis.

Hopefully if Fellaini is staying then he can knuckle down and play the sort of football that will earn him a starting spot at the world cup...because to be fair, he has some daunting competition for Belgiums middle of the park!

Jamie ( 319)
I think if a substantial bid came in for Fellaini, like you said about Blue Bill's previous, I don't think Roberto would be included in the negotiations, once the 'whiff of the wonga' permeated his office!

The daily fail seems determined to see at least one of our players go to man u (what's the name of their chief football writer? Steve something and he's a red hot manc fan). Now they are saying that Bainsey HAS to put in a transfer request if he wants to move to OT.

I see Fellaini going for £25-30m before transfer deadline day and Martinez replacing him with James McCarthy pocketing the balance.

His release clause expired on 31/07. Why, if he is as some have stated on these boards, the best DM in the league, has nobody purchased him at a bargain price of £24 million. I know he splits fans opinion, but come on. If he was that good wouldn't the majority of us agree??

On his day he is unplayable I agree. But his day does not come often enough. His temperament is disgraceful at times and that would never be accepted at a club like Utd. All an opposition player has to do is rough him up a bit and his game goes to pot.

Think about it. A player who, as some have said, is the best in the country in his position, and has a goal in him has been unable to get a move for £24 mil!!!!!

Why would any club now bid more than his release clause?

If they wanted him, why not pay the release clause in the first place?

I think it's because he isn't worth that. £17-18 million at most for me.

The only scenario where that would happen, Dean, is transfer deadline day should a club have missed out on their other targets - or had to sell a midfielder of their own.

I hope we keep him. Did you see how poor we were without him against Betis? He is our best player. These people who keep saying "Sell him" are deluded. You would need £30 mil to replace him. James McCarthy couldn't lace his boots. If Gibbo is out for a while, we will be in trouble without Felli because that would leave Osman, who is dreadful, and Barkley, who was woeful against Betis

Colin #324, and so he should fucking have to if he wants to go! These "loyalty" clauses have no place in a modern footballers contracts. They were there to compensate the player if the club decided to move him on / cash in on him (presumably not always against their will either).

I think he's a key player for Everton, but if he wants to go, he asks to. I'm sure his agent will get a suitable signing on fee from OFM to compensate him.

Hope he stays like.

"His temperament is disgraceful at times and that would never be accepted at a club like Utd."

Like a Keane or Cantona?

Jamie #343.. or Rooney...? Ooops.

The club will receive bids, I'll wager, but they will be less than £23m.

If he makes it clear he wants a move, & asks for a transfer, what do you think the club will do?
We have no idea of the wheeling & dealing that goes on behind scenes!

I think you're proabaly right, Mike (#299).

For fear of waking sleeping dogs, I trust our very own Fellaini protaganists are now set to rekindle that lengthy discussion on here about how much Fellaini will be sold for after the clause expires??? I must admit that was one of the hardest threads to stay engaged with in a long time!

Great news! If we lost Fellaini we wouldn't find another midfielder of such quality. Yes he has the odd off day, but he is such an asset to the club with strength, aerial ability, control and goals.

Teams out there had the opportunity to buy him at a sensible price, by today's standards, and they chose not to. Now we are back in control of the situation. It is unlikely a higher bid will come in, and if a bid for under £23m (or whatever the actual clause was) we are likely to reject it. The only way Felli or Baines will leave now is if a very large bid comes in or if the players themselves force the issue. I can't see Baines doing that (get the new contract sorted BK!) and Fellaini has not shown any signs of discontent other than the usual "I dream of playing in the Champions League" quotes that nearly all players come out with.

I can't say I fully trust Kenwright with the clubs finances, but I believe he is a true Evertonian and wants to see us hold on to our best players, With . Rooney, Lescott and Arteta we had little choice but to sell. It is disappointing that the new TV money hasn't led to a larger transfer fund for Martinez, but if it means we are in a stable enough position that we don't have to sell our best players I can live with that.

Of course I'm desperate to see us sign more players, but being the eternal optimist I'm looking for the positives and the prospect of Martinez bringing some of the youngsters through into the first team could end up as a good thing. Barkley, Stones, Oviedo, Junior, Vellios and Lundstram all have the potential to make it and this season could see more opportunities for them to come into games from the bench and build up some experience.

I have just been reading a bit about Landstram on Wikipedia:

His first full season on the international stage saw him play a major part in the U17s' run to the semi-final of the European Championship in Serbia. UEFA described Lundstram as an "influential catalyst in launching attacking moves" and he was also named in the "Tournament select squad". Following the completion of the tournament, UEFA made comparisons to fellow Liverpool-born player Steven Gerrard and praised his "biting tackle" and a "fine range of passing to instigate attacks".

I know its a big step up from the U17-U21s but he sounds like the type of midfield cover we are looking for.

Oops... they've already started!

Talking of Journos, I really thought The Independent had higher standards than this:

Transfer news: Manchester United want Leighton Baines to hand in transfer request at Everton - reports

What on earth possesses them to just recycle the shit that the Daily Mail conjours up? Three different Everton-related stories conflated into one, with no critical analysis whatsoever...

I know, I shouldn't be surprised: this is the silly season and they just can't let go of either the Baines story or the Fellaini story. Bastards the lot of them!

Not exactly a news flash here, but Football is a subject where journalists can pretty much make up whatever they like without fear of any sort of comeback. I think any one of us here could do the job of a sports columnist when it comes to transfer speculation. Nobody ever comes back to them and takes them to task for being way off the mark. As long as they sell copies with sensational headlines their editors are happy. I do enjoy the speculation sometimes, but it does get on your nerves when they won't let a story lie, especially when it is about one of our leaving. Best to take it all with a large pinch of salt. Bastards! Sorry for stating the obvious.

Jamie 343

What I mean is that when he gets roughed up he disappears from games, accept for when he is moaning or elbowing. At a top side they would expect it to have no effect on his game. He sulks alot when he is roughed up and that isn't good enough.

To compare him to Cantona or Keane is just stupid, he isn't in their league.

If for example Anichebe went around doing what Dunc used to do he wouldn't last long. The difference the skill of the player. Keane and Cantona were worth the baggage because of how good they were. If Fellaini acted at Utd the way he does with us he wouldn't last 5 minutes

This could be a test for Roberto. Let's see what influence he has if someone comes in late for Felli and he can't get cover in time.

I hope he would be strong and tell the board no go. It would bode well for the future.

Also, who knows how Felli will play this season. Could be a world beater and go on to win the world cup.

Okay, it does look like he's staying after all. Although,now that I think he's going to stay he'll probably leave.

If he stays, we do still need another midfielder. We have Fellaini, Gibson, Osman and Barkley. With Lundstram still probably too young and Junior looking increasingly unlikely to make the grade.

For a 3 man midfield (or even a 2 man), that it pretty light over the course of the season. We could do with the additon of a positionally aware, tough tackling, crisp passing defensive midfielder. Any ideas?

I really want one more season at least out of Fella in his rightful DFM position. Just wish he had someone alongside him of similer value. I would be a lot more excited for this season of we had got Fer or Honda or someone to augment what we have.... Not replace who we might lose. What's Banega up to or that Belgium guy with the funny name?

That would Manny Fernandes Jon... I think I might get banned from TW if I say his name once more.

Does it not worry anyone that no one came in for him? Martinez himself admitted that if the release clause had been met then the club would have had no say. Clearly he's not worth the value that we attribute to him. Man U and Arsenal can't find one midfielder between them yet neither of them moved for Fellaini.

With Fellaini in the team it stops us playing the sort of football we all want to see. The only position he can play is as an advanced presser, harrying opposition players off the ball high up the pitch. He always needs a player behind him to play the holding role which means Gibson has to play. This leaves only one spot behind the striker for any creativity. All you will get in the middle is Fellaini conservatively passing sideways. Great when we're defending against top sides, not so good when we're trying to break down lesser sides at home.

It is a far cry from that run of games when due to injury Osman and Arteta started in the middle with Donovan and Pienaar on the flanks. We beat Man U and Chelsea on the spin if I remember by passing them off the park. We are not going to see that football until Fellaini and his go slow passing is not on the pitch (one benefit of the Martinez era may well be that the ultimate Moyes favourite of all may finally get some bench time after he puts in inept performance after inept performance, I mean some weeks he barely looks fit).

Top teams all have a deep lying distributor in the mould of a Pirlo or a Xavi who can control the whole game through their passing range. They're usually flanked by a top class holding midfielder who wins the ball and sets them up in space with time to pick their pass. At the apex of the trio is usually the magical dribbler who can both slot the front man in and go by himself. These balanced trios are everywhere in Europe Busquets/Xavi/Iniesta, Khedira/Alonso/Ozil, De Rossi/Pirlo/Montolivo, Martinez/Schweinsteiger/ Kroos - dare I say it Macherano/Alonso/Gerrard - to a lesser extent Carsley/Gravesen/Cahill.

Can people not see that Fellaini does not fit into any of these slots so leaves our team permanently unbalanced? Gibson has to play the role of both holding mid and distributor when he's partnered by Fellaini. Isolate Gibson and our whole transition falls apart. Moyes realised this so moved Osman back with him to act as distributor, shoving Fellaini uptop. This of course sorted out our transition from back to front but left us impotent up front as we had no creativity from the number 10 position.

On paper the answer should be Fellaini as the defensive midfielder but that has been tried and has been proven to fail so many times that its not even worth trying again. Until someone tells him to stand 15 yards further forward, put in a tackle before the edge of the box, and track runners behind him then he is not going to be a holding mid.

Fellaini is the ultimate white elephant in the room and unless he undertakes a miraculous transformation under Martinez we're not going to see great football. That's ultimately why none of the top clubs came in for him. They don't buy players without pace, who can't pick a pass, can't shoot from distance, have no positional sense, and offer little but headers won and covering lots of yards. Cahill got hounded out on here for less but at least he had some agression in his play that made him useful.

Well I'm glad he's staying. He needs to get his head down, elbows under control and hopefully play in his strongest position as a defensive MF player. On his day, I know....., he's world class.

David (409 )

I think you may be referring to Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, funny we have not heard anything recently! There again that was a Moyes associated target so whether Roberto would consider him I don't know! Good point all the same,I don't think they were talking Monopoly money either! I remember thinking when we were associated that he'd be worth a punt!

The sometimes over-flattering You-tube video of him looked okay!

There's no doubting we do need bolstering in the CM department whether Fellaini stays or not,because of injuries,suspensions,competition for places! After all said and done Neville and Hitzlsperger have not been replaced,and although both played cameo roles last season,nevertheless were squad members to be called on!

I see Arteta is out for six weeks, I wonder if Man Utd and Arsenal might still come in for Fellaini. Moyes said earlier that there were "several" things happening transfer-wise.

I agree with James Martin. I don't see Man Utd buying him for reasons stated and the fact they have too many players in midfield that are better.

I also think that he is about as good as he is going to get and still a liability. He seems to get himself in trouble and banned when we need him most.

Strange no-one has made any real attempt to buy him with all the hype. The buy-out clause expiring probably works in his favour, now clubs can offer a lot less than £24 million and he can make it known he wants leave and create a Rat Boy situation.

Imo he is gone in the next 7 days at most.
Maybe even this weekend.

Dean #330, that was exactly the point being made in the thread MK refers to in #353.

James #427, you've been far too complimentary to Fellaini there mate.

Headers won? He hardly ever jumps for the ball.

So these new quotes from Martinez that were in The Mirror cast a bit more light:

“This is not a situation where we are actively putting up players for sale because we need the money, it is definitely not the case at all.

“And when you are in a strong position financially, you will never sell a player for less than the buy-out clause. Yes, you are sweating on July 30 and 31, but after that we don't have to sell players. It's as simple as that.”

If what Roberto says is true, this would seem to fly in the face of what a great many have posted about the Fellaini business.

Anything could still happen, of course, but it seems he's saying Everton are financially strong(!) and have no desire to sell the player — certainly not for anything less than the buy-out clause.

Or is he potentially making a rod for his own back by coming out with such a strong statement?

We live in interesting times...

Michael,

"... we are financially strong..." should give an indication to how accurate the statement is.

More interesting for me was when he went on to say re Baines "you would hope David Moyes feels he owes this club something. If someone tells you it is their final bid it should be their final bid".

Let's see if the man of dignity goes against his word.

Michael #547 it depends what you believe the financial position of Everton to be. If, after all debt servicing including finance, we are £9-10m down on the previous TV deal, then the new deal would suggest that the £7-8m net transfer kitty is about right?

Michael, with the extra £20M from the telly money covering our annual losses then we don't have to sell a player to pay off the bank. So in that respect if Martinez doesn't want to sell anyone he doesn't have to, so it could be said we're 'in a strong position financially', but overall our financial position has remained the same.

It's difficult to work out - Martinez seems genuinely relaxed about his squad and finances and indicates that we will bring someone else in if he finds that player and feels the first one or two performances require something else. That will likely be a loan.

While we're being outspent easily by everyone as usual, Martinez has acted early and brought vital goalkeeping cover and someone to push Jelavic. He's also brought in an exciting prospect of a player and an experienced and skilled defender in.

There's none of the bitey, sulky Moyes approach to the transfer window I used to dread so much - where we're all on here worrying that we've not brought a single player in and arguing amongst ourselves over what Moyes means when he growls at the press "we're looking, but it's difficult. We'll see what we can do, we'd certainly like to do something".

I think if Roberto says he's happy with what he's got, he doesn't have to sell, he's still having a look and a think right up to the window, but he'll not be throwing cash about, then we have to trust him for now.

it would be good for Fellaini to stay but, if he does go, let Martinez spend all the money on replacements, as the midfield would be very weak.

Moyes quoted as saying one or two things happening transfer wise. He used to say that a lot at Everton too, but it was usually at best forlorn hope and at worst complete rubbish. Moyes is full of the brown stuff these days. Manure are trying to get both players on the cheap and (to continue with my excrement related theme) it stinks. The paper journos are all in Manure's pocket and busily supporting their agenda.

On a related point, It didn't take Moyes long to get into "knife to a gunfight" mode.....complaining about their tough start fixture wise........jeez. Wonder if SAF will give him his watch to point at in injury time too?

The bit not quoted above by RM is that he also says he hopes Manure show Everton respect and that the "final" offer for Baines was just that. Dream on Roberto, OFM has been disrespecting the Club since before he walked out the door.

I don't think Baines or Fellaini are leaving unless they submit transfer requests which seems unlikely for the former but maybe not for the latter.

We are not going to sell Fella now for less than the release clause as that would seem bad business and no club will want to risk looking silly by paying more than they might have a few weeks ago.

I think it's as you were unless we pick up a loan or a bargain.

Don't know what is so important about the clause in his contract. We can except any bid of any value at anytime. The clause meant at £24m we didn't have a choice, now we can tell them all to get lost.

As RM has said we don't need to sell, possibly because the new TV revenue has serviced the debt rather than a transfer. All those teams who thought Baines, Fellaini and maybe Coleman would be sold on the cheap have had to think again.

We were always good for a bargain, not this year! Another way to view it? A few members have said teams are waiting for deadline day to buy our players on the cheap, because we usually need the cash; well, maybe that's what RM is doing.

Michael #353, I have to plead guilty to being a key part of that, and am trying to resist any 'I told you so' type posts. It looks like we'll keep him now, which I for one am very pleased about.

If we do sell him, I think it'll be for an amount of money that enables us to buy two or three very good players. Let's say two central midfielders, a tackler and a playmaker, and another attacking midfielder/winger, like a Scott Sinclair. This wouldn't be the worst result in the world either.

Ciaran, you say:

"The problem with Fellaini and to an extent - some or our other midfielders, is that they are so inconsistent that they get a huge degree of criticism.

Look at Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar, Gibson...all capable of being world beaters on any given day - however for some reason they fail to deliver on a consistent basis."

To what extent can the excuse be made that when fit they play every minute of every game, and every one of those minutes is competitive, meaning they suffer cumulative tiredness and injury niggles that lead to inconsistency. However at, say, Man United, players are rotated and are sometimes 3-0 up and able to cruise through, conserving energy and avoiding niggles? Perhaps if those players were at Man United (or wherever) they would be more able to maintain consistency.

I'll be more worried if Arsenal want him. Wenger is more realistic with his valuation of players and would probably bid £25m for him. If Man U' value Fabregas at £30-35m there's no way they'll offer more than £20m for Fellaini.

Iain,

I know it's been done to death,why do you imagine Wenger would bid £25 million when it is public knowledge he could have paid £23 million before the clause ran out?

Mmm, yeah, good point Paul!!

Iv heard today from someone who sits in the VIP box every season that Baines has been told to hand in a transfer request on Monday morning to balance out the books! ( This person has been told by someone who works within the club! )

Gerry,

Haines would lose a lot of money and credibility by handing in a transfer request.
There is no reason why he would do that.
If he goes he will make sure it is down to the club accepting an offer,not because he requested a move.
You can relax on that one

Haines?

Ross,

Do yourself a favour.
Stop pulling typos you childish hallbag

Paul calm down, don't get so angry. I didn't insult you at all.

Hallbag..Very good Paul,on it..