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Everton have reportedly rejected a second offer from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines (Getty Images)
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester United have had a combined £36m offer turned down by Everton for midfielder Marouane Fellaini and left-back Leighton Baines on Thursday night according to reports from The Guardian.
This is United’s second bid for the Everton pair after an earlier bid of £28m was turned down a few weeks earlier. David Moyes seems intent on bringing two of his former players to Old Trafford and United have pursued their interest with a second bid. But Everton have once again held firm and are not keen to sell. Negotiations are expected to continue till the close of the window on Monday, but new manager Roberto Martinez has admitted that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright would have the final say in all transfer matters.
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Fellaini has been the subject of reported interest from United for some time now as they look to reinforce their midfield. The Belgian had a £23.5m buyout clause in his contract which expired on 31 July and manager Martinez has maintained since that the club will not sell for a lower value. Everton are thought to have been considering making a move for Wigan Athletic’s James McCarthy as a contingency plan in the event of Fellaini moving.
Despite Everton’s firm insistence that they do not want to sell Baines or Fellaini, Martínez has said that the club must be “prepared for anything”.
“I am not aware of it,” he replied on questions pertaining to United’s improved bid.
“I have told the chairman I don’t want to know anything that’s going on, I only want to know the final news if there is anything.”
“I have had enough of ‘he said this, he said that’. This is a really sensitive situation because you’re talking of a chairman and previous manager [Moyes] who had a relationship over 11 years. A lot of things have been said in public and I don’t want to be part of that. I’m out of it. But I have never had any instruction that anything has changed.” added Martinez, reports the Guardian
He also made it clear that left-back Baines had so far not asked to be allowed to rejoin his former manager at Old Trafford. “No, no,” he said.
“But whatever the players say in a different situation or environment could change. All I can tell you is that Leighton is an Evertonian and very thankful for the opportunity Everton gave him. And if he has a club like Manchester United interested in him, it’s a football compliment and we will take it like that. Then if things are not right, they are not right. Sometimes the club needs to be respected in that way.”
Manchester United play Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield and a lot of activity is expected between that match and the close of the transfer window as Moyes continues to seek a marquee signing.
