Manchester United's Leighton Baines chase puts Everton on collision course with former manager Moyes
Toffees instantly reject initial £12m bid but may sell for close to £20m...Trouble is, champions don't want to pay more than £15m
Michael Regan
David Moyes will have to battle his old club to land Leighton Baines
after Everton rejected his £12million offer for the England defender.
Everton have been bracing themselves all summer for an approach from their former boss to take Baines with him to Manchester United, and they immediately rebuffed his opening salvo when it finally came on Thursday.
The Toffees feel Moyes' bid hugely undervalues Baines, who was acclaimed as the Premier League’s best left-back last season.
Although Everton maintain Baines is not for sale because he is such a key figure in their team, it is understood they may do business if Moyes offers around £20m.
That stance will put Moyes on collision course with his former employers as it is believed he does not want to pay more than £15m to bring the ex-Wigan star to the Old Trafford giants.
Moyes' predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, ran into a similar brick wall when he enquired after Baines last summer.
Fergie baulked when word came back that he would need to stump up £18m to convince Moyes to sell.
Although Ferguson felt Baines was the ideal long-term successor to Patrice Evra, he was not prepared to pay what he felt was over the odds and instead bought Vitesse Arnhem's Alex Buttner for around £4m.
Everton do not believe Baines has depreciated 12 months on.
He also has two years left on his current contract, and is in his prime at 28.
The Toffees are determined to fight to hold on to one of their two most-prized assets.
They plan to offer Baines a new deal that will make him their joint best-paid player, alongside their other crown jewel, Marouane Fellaini.
Chairman Bill Kenwright briefed new manager Roberto Martinez - back in England on Friday after the Confederations Cup - on Baines’ position on Thursday night.
Kenwright claims Martinez wants to preserve the squad he inherited from Moyes.
“It’s difficult for me talking for Roberto, but he thinks the squad is fantastic,” he said.
“He wants to hold onto it, but he also wants to bring in two or three players in the positions were we need them.”
Everton have been bracing themselves all summer for an approach from their former boss to take Baines with him to Manchester United, and they immediately rebuffed his opening salvo when it finally came on Thursday.
The Toffees feel Moyes' bid hugely undervalues Baines, who was acclaimed as the Premier League’s best left-back last season.
Although Everton maintain Baines is not for sale because he is such a key figure in their team, it is understood they may do business if Moyes offers around £20m.
That stance will put Moyes on collision course with his former employers as it is believed he does not want to pay more than £15m to bring the ex-Wigan star to the Old Trafford giants.
Moyes' predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, ran into a similar brick wall when he enquired after Baines last summer.
Fergie baulked when word came back that he would need to stump up £18m to convince Moyes to sell.
Although Ferguson felt Baines was the ideal long-term successor to Patrice Evra, he was not prepared to pay what he felt was over the odds and instead bought Vitesse Arnhem's Alex Buttner for around £4m.
Everton do not believe Baines has depreciated 12 months on.
He also has two years left on his current contract, and is in his prime at 28.
The Toffees are determined to fight to hold on to one of their two most-prized assets.
They plan to offer Baines a new deal that will make him their joint best-paid player, alongside their other crown jewel, Marouane Fellaini.
Chairman Bill Kenwright briefed new manager Roberto Martinez - back in England on Friday after the Confederations Cup - on Baines’ position on Thursday night.
Kenwright claims Martinez wants to preserve the squad he inherited from Moyes.
“It’s difficult for me talking for Roberto, but he thinks the squad is fantastic,” he said.
“He wants to hold onto it, but he also wants to bring in two or three players in the positions were we need them.”
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