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Manchester United have been shown some light at the end of a tunnel in their pursuit of Everton left back Leighton Baines after the Merseyside club revealed that they are yet to open contract talks with the England international.
As per Mirror Football, Everton boss Roberto Martinez revealed that progress is yet to be made on a fresh contract for Baines, who has just 18 months remaining on his current deal.
The same report, however, suggests that he will not come cheap for any club trying to sign him before his current deal expires.
The Spaniard insists the defender is not for sale but could discuss selling their prized left-back in January if United meet their valuation of the England international.
Martinez, before his side’s match against Swansea, said: “If I want a player I need to match the valuation to then put the other club and the player in a situation to make a decision.We have never been in a situation where the valuation has been matched with Leighton.”
That valuation is believed to be somewhere around 20 million pounds or more which David Moyes and Manchester United haven’t come close to meeting during their initial pursuit of the left back in the summer.
But now with United lingering at eighth position in the league and the future of Patrice Evra, whose current deal expires at the end of the current campaign, still uncertain, a left back has become one of the priorities, along with a central midfielder.
Big spending on players more than 25 years old has never been in the transfer policy of Manchester United. But then there have been exceptions to such policies when the right talent has been available like we saw last season with Robin van Persie.
Therefore, this transfer story becomes an interesting proposition in the coming transfer window where United are in desperate need of reinforcements.
