Baines rumours are not going away

Which of us is sitting in the boardroom to come out and say we have not offered a new contract to Baines? I know the boss is not liked here (except a lot of praise for the transfer window) do you not think after keeping Baines they would try and tie him down to a contract? It takes two to sign and as much as I like and want Baines to stay, if he will not sign then the message is clear, get as much as possible for him.

I know as said before a lot on this site have no time for the Everton board but they are not stupid, if players will not sign then the days of refusing a transfer are gone, get used to it. We are not in Europe and we do not pay £100k plus per week to players, we have to live with it.

I have mixed feelings in wanting to keep and get the best but this club CANNOT AFFORD THEM. So back to reality and rant over.

I see the papers are saying Baines is stalling on his contract!!

That's bad news. I read in one of the papers that Moyes is going to prepare a bid for Baines in January, with Valencia the makeweight.

I'd bite their hands off at the moment, Ross, although I'd much prefer Hernandez.

Baines scored two fabulous free-kicks against WHU but other than that he has looked decidedly average for far too long. I love the lad and he'll go down in the history books, but if he wants out and we get the right deal then I say let him go.

I'd prefer Hernandez too Phil, but Valencia is a good player.

I thought he looked totally disinterested yesterday as if he has already decided to go.

£15 million and Valencia would certainly appeal to me and would enable us to go for a younger quality left-back like Luke Shaw.

Plus the Fellaini money Jay, unless of course Bill has spent it all on a production of Joseph.

Valencia will be 29 and is on £90,000 a week. So financially it is probably a straight swap, but he doesn't appeal to me as someone who would improve our side. I'd rather take £20m straight cash deal. The board has plenty of notice that the deal is going to go through, so plenty of time to line-up a replacement, plus we have a strong understudy in Oviedo and a good youngster in Garbutt.

We don't want Valencia!

After the transfer window closed I distinctively remember RM publically saying we were going to reward him with a new contract, it hasn't happened, I think he'll be gone in January.

Phil Sammon (74) is spot on. Like him I think the world of Bainsey but the cheery chipper hammers aside I can't think of a game where he has played at his level best. Crosses are not the same standard, caught out constantly in position (new formations causing this - hmmmm - no), defensive blunders, link-up play with those in front of him not as peachy )new formations causing this - hmmmm - no).

Love Bainsey me but he has been well below par this season for whatever reason - and I can think of a biggin! - and this is not the loss it would have been two years ago.

UP THE WORKERS!

I want Kagawa!!

Don't know whether it's the new system, or simply that his foil (Pienaar) is not playing in front of him. He seems more like the Baines who plays for England at the mo'. Good, but the interplay with a teammate is missing...

Isn't Ashley Cole aging these days? I hate this transfer to Man Utd by default, I believe we have a Chelsea player in the squad at the mo' that we'd love to sign. Wheel and deal as only 'Arry knows how, senior Martinez.

Think Baines (and Fellaini) has been below HIS standard since January 2013 when we were in with a shout of a European place IF we had brought in some fresh legs. With hindsight it was obvious the rumours around OFM were true and therefore no investment made saving the money for the new manager. As someone mentioned on here during the last transfer circus, Fellaini to go then with Baines to follow. Only Billy Bullshit delaying things to keep the delusional delusioned!

He's the sort of lad who would have signed the day after the transfer window if happy.

As long as he does his job and doesn't start telling lies like the other chancer did treating us like mugs then fair enough, bon voyage.

His strength is forward play rather than defence so hopefully developing the new style will balance that loss.

Effective defenders aren't as hard to get hold of as creative players plus we have time to prepare.

Prefer him to stay but if the lad has decided to follow Moyes I'm really not worried.

If he goes then I just hope we get a good price for him, as I think we did with Fellaini.

Spot on there, Barry. Baines would've already signed a new contract by now if he was happy. Alan Stubbs has also unhelpfully confirmed this.

We need to stop dreaming about signing Luke Young, Southamton are not a selling club. They have spent a considerable amount of money this season building a strong squad – no way will they think about selling the most exciting young left back in the country.

As for getting Valencia as part of the Baines deal – surely this is just paper talk

Baines is being played in a different way by RM. He must also be under instructions to put every cross to the near post. Don't ask me why but that is what is happening.

If he is to go then maximise his value. Footy is a business. Just ask 'Arry.

Valencia would be a superb addition. Anyone who does not see him as a class act is blind.

The way things are panning out, it will be £15 million and Fellaini!

And soon there'll be none......

Just to add; how the vultures came screaming and circling above us the moment we lost our first (Premier League) match....To call them 'journalists' is like labelling the staff in McDonalds 'chefs'.

Baines did not look disinterested yesterday. He did not have a good game but that's because Milner was tasked with taking him out the game. Without him we lost a lot of our creativity so good tactics by Pelligrini.

Baines is vital to us and we need to keep him at all costs. Look at it this way: even if he had an average season, who else would you trust with free kicks and penalties? He brings that much to the team that it would take two players to replace him and we can't afford them.

If he is on his way already then there is nothing we can do but, if there is a chance of him staying,, then we should make sure it happens. It isn't often we get world class players at the club, let's back the rare one we have, eh?

Everton are bigger than any player!! Let's move on!! Our great club has some momentum now. Robbie needs to "man up" and get rid of the players who are holing us back. Sick and tired of same players under performing and still playing the next game! "Robbie " grow a pair or move on from our great club.

Yes, come on, Robbie. "Man up"! If you want to become a manager.

It was the Dear Leader who spoke about a new contract, just after his "he had me at Champions League". All the usual rollocks from the man.

How bout £15M plus that lad Januzaj!

Hate to say it but agree that Leighton Baines has not been his best for a while now (West Ham aside of course). If he really does want to leave and we get a good price then let him go have his shot. He's earned it.

Baines is going. Baines isn't going. Baines is going.

I don't care any more, just keep your dirty mits off Barkley until we get some silverware.

If we do sell Baines, I'd like us to give Garbutt a go. Barkley has come on under Roberto; hopefully Luke can too.

He really doesn't look good enough, Stu. Even at U21 level he's not a standout player.

Didn't think he'd be going anywhere but guess I was wrong. Wouldn't be so bad if we had a replacement but Oviedo is a bit lightweight and Garbutt is too slow and not good enough.

We can't afford to lose Baines and compete at the level we are. End of story.

It seems obvious that Baines intends to leave, we should play tough and demand top money after what he showed at West Ham again.
I see its reported that Tottenham are now interested, and there will be more clubs sniffing around I'm thinking.
If he wants to go let him, they need to want to play for us, if not give them the boot!

Time to sell. Especially if the 15m figure is still on the table. Lots of good left backs out there for a third of that amount.

At the end of the day; our hand will be forced. We offer him a new contract and he signs, happy days, if he refuses a new contract and states his intention to leave, I really hate to say it but it will be in our best interests financially to sell him as soon as possible (i.e. January) to maximise his transfer fee.

If the Baines / Barkley rumours have any validity (and I'm sure its 50-50 speculation / lazy journalism) but can Mr Moyes (who I defended to the hilt as our manager) not look beyond his comfort zone of Everton? Surely as he described himself: "with all respect to Everton, Manchester United is a different level", our previous manager must have his sights set on a far superior scouting network. Or is the so called elite of Europe simply not willing to sign for him so he defaults to what he knows?

If we sell him we need to sign someone young, and who has a real goal threat. Not an easy task. Can't see Valencia turning up at Goodison in a hurry.

Don't agree that the lad is disinterested or in poor form. He is honest enough to give his all every time he steps onto a pitch.

Opposition managers learned to shackle our left flank last season, and this season the team has been set up to more evenly distribute the attacking threat and he has had much fewer opportunities to get deep into the oppositions territory.

That said, his future may well be playing on his mind and if he won't sign a new contract then the club needs to do the best business we can. I think Valencia would be a good addition though he would have to accept a wage cut (players will do that to secure their futures won't they?) or negotiate a pay-off from the Mancs. That doesn't fill the gap Leighton's departure will cause and it will be up to the manager to find a suitable replacement from the lower leagues or the continent.

Need your head examining if you really believe that Chelski would cut us an affordable deal for Cole and Lukaku with only Baines going in the opposite direction. Not sure if he fancies moving down south anyway.

Brian @132. Exactly what about Valencia makes him a class act? Please enlighten us. He's had one good season in his time at Manure, hence they are looking to offload him.

I for one do not fancy our great club being a farm for them, and a dumping ground for their rejects. Hernandez is a different story. There is a player who would add value to our squad.

File this one under definitely going to happen, with a new contract not signed, also Stubbs very public announcement that he wanted to leave all the signs are there, personally I think Oviedo will be a very capable replacement, don't forget we paid 4 mill for him. On another note watched the games today, why did we not try to sign Sessignon? he would have been such a good addition at a great price and would have been perfect in the role Naismith tries to play, oh well.

Christopher #990 "a lot on this site have no time for the Everton board but they are not stupid"

Do you think they might have learned from the mistakes made over Dan Gosling and Manny Fernandes then?

I mean, they definitely looked stupid then.

Let's get realistic here, boys – Baines has got to be in the top 5 in the world in his position. Of course he will be a major loss to our side... he's quality.

I do agree, if a player's heart is not in a club, then yes, let him go... but let's do all we can to keep him: offer him the best deal we can... and if he insists that no amount of cash will keep him here and, in his own words, he wants to go, then so be it

But for god's sake, do our level best to keep him ... We need quality in our side Oviedo is a good lad but no replacement for the Baines. If he wants to go, then we should demand top wack for him in the region of £20 mill.

I've read that the Man Utd would offer cash plus Valencia... nahhhh, I don't rate him. Del-boy's better. I would love him to stay but, if he goes, then good luck to him. Again, in my opinion, he gives and always will give 100%. Stay, Bainesy lad!

Eric @228, I know what you mean but Gosling and Fernandes didn't turn out to be much of a loss... not really world beaters are they!

What I am saying (as others have said here) is after keeping Baines do you not think Baines would be offered a new contract? I do, and if he is not signing it then it means he wants out. What I and others want is irrelevant, if he does not sign then Everton have to get the price/deal they can before his value is gone.

It was always going to be the case that under Martinez the LB position was not going to be as critical as it was under Moyes. There are a number of excellent LBs that might be available should Baines leave eg Shaw (though I suspect the media will make sure he goes to one of the rich 4), Olsen, and the Swansea lad (Davies?). I wouldn't want Baines to go (although as his contract runs down it effectively becomes costlier and costlier to keep him) but, as the loss of Fellaini shows, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

It is still an open question as to whether MUM (the Manchester United Manager) will still be there in January to sanction such a deal.

Comes down to contract=stay; no new contract=leaving

The rumours are not going away because it's a done deal! At least, that's my understanding of the situation. OFM stitched it up in August but because of his 'special relationship' with BK agreed to leave Bainesy with us until New Year.

I don't agree with those who allege the lad's not putting in a shift but I do think he's missing Pienaar and may well be under instructions to pass short rather than crossing into the box.

Our loss all round.

He seem happy enough here ;

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/evertons-baines-admits-blues-still-6148074

I imagine Robbio has asked to have Valencia included in the deal as he's ex Wigan and our manager is addicted to the breed.Just hope he's more like Luka and Macca than our other three Pie Eaters?

Brian you've turned into Phil W.

If there's any truth in the rumour about Valencia, Fergie signed him & he didn't buy mugs. The guy's provided plenty of goals for Rooney etc when I've seen Man Utd. It depends what value they place on him of course.

Baines is leaving in my opinion, I suppose there's a slim chance he's playing hard to get for a much improved contract, but I doubt it. We'll miss him for his free kicks though!

Steve Carse (242) makes a great point about Baines's somewhat changing role under Martinez. Being positioned farther forward makes Baines much more subject to the kind of man-marking he got from Milner, which he didn't have to deal with when he was overlapping into open space under the Moyes system. I think he simply has to adjust to being man-marked off the ball.

And I'm still singing the same tune I always have... we don't need to bring in a replacement if Baines goes. I think we already have the right man in Oviedo.

Tony Mc. Nice one, but not sure it fits.

"Fergie signed him & he didn't buy mugs."

You should have a read of these Raymond.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1266021-sir-alex-fergusons-10-biggest-transfer-flops-at-manchester-united

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/legacygallery/gallery-4667/Fergies-transfer-flops.html

http://footballspeak.com/post/2011/12/14/Sir-Alex-Fergusons-top-10-worst-signings.aspx&sa=U&ei=lphTUqTOCqrV0QXx54GoBg&ved=0CDQQFjAG&usg=AFQjCNGQbHeusFjnHZNI1mKNIBHTk7LpIw

I think it was a good decision not to sell Baines and Fellaini at the same time as it would have been too big a blow to the team dynamic. If he doesn't want to sign a new deal and there is a sensible offer I think we have to accept reality and let him go. Spend the money on Like Shaw. He won't be cheap, but I'm sure he would want to come to us.

As for Valencia. I like him, but his wages could be a bit of an issue. Shame he's not a left winger!

After his recent interviews it's difficult to imagine him moving elsewhere, but I wouldn't put money on it. Even if he does go we've still got him for next three months and he'll keep giving 100%. Also, if,as Doddy suggests, his move is a done deal, Martinez will be well on top of the left back situation.

I agree with Shaw. Baines hasn't signed a contract as he wants to go. Lets get at least £25.million for him and buy Lukaka, after all Baines will be 29 this year

I have respect for Fellani at least he put in a transfer request

Ok Eric your right, you've jogged my memory now!
Fergie played him in most games if he was fit last season as I recollect, and he looks a decent player to me.
I'm not sure RM would want him though!

I've been saying that Baines will leave all along, but after seeing his interview after the City game I'm not so sure now, he was praising RM, & saying he was enjoying working with him, he didn't sound like someone who wants to leave, maybe he is just playing hard to get, to obtain the best contract possible?

I really don't think Luke Shaw is an option. He's just signed a new long contract at Southampton who have more money than us and are above us in the league. Shame. More likely we'd end up with someone like Bertrand or that lad Sisquera.