Manchester United have been linked to Everton left-back Leighton Baines for so long now that any chance of an actual deal happening is unlikely. Whilst you would think that David Moyes moving to Old Trafford would have increased the chances of Baines ending up at Old Trafford, Everton’s new boss, Roberto Martinez, seems as keen to keep him as ever.
Should David Moyes attempt to sign his old work colleague during the January transfer window, he’ll find negotiations as tough going as they were last summer. With Leighton Baines unlikely to betray his current paymasters and demand a move, David Moyes is going to have to work very hard indeed to get his man.
But Moyes has more experience now. After a summer of failed negotiations, surely the time’s right for the Scot to start earning his keep? Surely he’ll be able to use his old Goodison Park connections to try and get a deal done?
Of course, Everton won’t agree to sell one of their star men unless they’re offered the right kind of money. But that’s exactly the problem: it’s not clear how much the Toffees would demand in return for Leighton Baines.
The Mirror claim that Manchester United are readying a £16m bid to sign the left-back. Would this be enough to get Roberto Martinez to reconsider his position?
At 29-years-old, £16m could be viewed as a fairly healthy return. After all, he’s probably only got two or three years at the very top left in him. What’s more, the Everton hierachy may well feel that they owe it to Baines to allow him to move to a big club before it’s too late.
United fans will certainly have their fingers crossed. Patrice Evra’s now 32-years-old (though he still seems to be as fleet-footed as ever) and is moving into the autumn of his career. I’m not sure that Alexander Buttner or Fabio will be ready to step up when he steps down.
So it’s easy to see why David Moyes is still on the trail of Leighton Baines. He’s the best left-back in the Premier League, with his quick, accurate crossing and set-piece ability. I dare say that he’d add balance to this Manchester United side too, with his pace up and down the wings and his great work ethic.
If getting a deal done requires spending a little more than £16m, then I hope the club’s top brass wont be put off. This could end up being an important acquisition for Manchester United.
What’s your take? Should Manchester United make another attempt to sign Leighton Baines?
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This article sounded very reasonable until you wrote the line ‘may feel they owe it to Baines to move to a big club’. That’s where the problem is. Everton IS a big club. No matter what the media’s ongoing agenda is to marginalise, patronise and quite frankly ignore Everton’s stature and achievements, Everton and the Everton fans see Utd as a direct bitter rival (they certainly are this season in terms of league placings) and historically, up to the Prem era, EFC generally got the better of Utd. Up to 1992, after 114 years of history, Everton had won more league titles than Utd. Everton aren’t going to kowtow to Utd and think letting a player join Utd is some sort of lovely gesture. It’s about time the media at large realised this and acknowledged Everton’s history and size as a club.
He I a already at a big club . Ha ha what utter crap is written on these sites regarding Everton players. The feeder club to United is over unless they pay well over the odds so I think you should be looking at 25 m for baines and 85 m for the new zidane .
why would baines want to move to united, he is already playing for a big club, may i add a club that is far superior to united. i think it woùld be fair to say he would only be holding back his own carrer if he moved there. he will get cl football with everton no feär
Why would he leave a side on the verge of the top 4 and still in the FA Cup to go to a mid table team?
yes