Everton say joint £28m bid 'derisory and
insulting'
• James McCarthy lined up as possible
replacement
Norwich City v Everton - Premier
League
Marouane Fellaini, right, in action for
Everton on the opening day of the season
at Norwich. Photograph: Tony Marshall/
Getty Images
Andy Hunter and Jamie Jackson
Manchester United are expected to return
with separate offers for Marouane Fellaini
and Leighton Baines, having incensed
Everton with a joint £28m bid for David
Moyes's former players.
Everton described as "derisory and
insulting" an offer that valued Fellaini at
£16m, a decrease on what Moyes paid for
the midfielder five years ago, and Baines at
£12m, the sum rejected earlier in the
summer. The offer was made late last week
by United's executive vice-president Ed
Woodward but sanctioned by Moyes,
leaving Everton's chairman, Bill Kenwright,
furious at the valuation and its potential
disruption to Roberto Martínez's debut
season at Goodison Park.
United's joint bid, as with their initial move
for Baines in June, was rejected out of
hand by Everton but is unlikely to be their
last approach having failed to make any
senior signings so far under Moyes.
Everton are adamant the England left-back
is not for sale and want to keep Fellaini,
although an improved offer for the Belgium
midfielder may test that resolve. United's
prospects would therefore be improved by
lodging separate bids for Everton's prize
assets.
Everton's director of communications, Alan
Myers, said: "Everton received bids from
Manchester United for two players. Those
bids were immediately rejected out of hand
as derisory and insulting. The club did not
make public these details as it was vital
Roberto Martínez's preparations for the
opening game of the Premier League
season were not disrupted in any way."
Martínez may return to Wigan Athletic for
James McCarthy in the event of Fellaini's
departure and has inquired about signing
Gareth Barry on a season-long loan from
Manchester City. However, the Everton
manager says the club have complete
control over Fellaini's future following the
expiry of a £23.5m buy-out clause in the
midfielder's contract on 31 July and will not
sell below that price. The 25-year-old did
not attract one offer while his buyout
clause was in place, strengthening United's
conviction that £23.5m did not reflect his
market value.
Everton had anticipated a lower offer from
United after 31 July and it was only last
Thursday, before the joint bid was made,
that Martínez stated: "When you are in a
strong position financially you will never
sell a player for less than the buy-out
clause." Nevertheless the £16m valuation of
Fellaini stunned Everton. The Belgium
midfielder was signed by Moyes from
Standard Liège for £15m in 2008, a fee that
rose to £17.5m with add-ons. Liège are
entitled to 20% of any profit that Everton
make on Fellaini and the Goodison club
had wanted a £30m release clause written
into his last contract.
United have struggled in Moyes's and
Woodward's first transfer window together
at Old Trafford with the club's pursuit of
Cesc Fabregas, the manager's prime target,
unlikely to succeed after the midfielder
spoke publicly about his desire to stay at
Barcelona.
Martinez did not rule out the prospect of
selling Fellaini when he outlined the
midfielder's contractual position at Everton
last week, saying "If there is an offer on the
table then we will have to look into it,", but
will be distinctly unimpressed by Moyes'
refusal to accept defeat on Baines. United
told Everton their £12m move for Baines in
July was a final offer and the decision to re-
submit the bid has added to the annoyance
at Goodison Park.
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