Everton manager David Moyes has been quick to identify James McCarthy of Wigan as a replacement for Marouane Fellaini according to latest reports.
Marouane Fellaini has said that he would be happy to stay on at Everton if the club can finish in the top four of the Premier League and qualify for Champions League football. Everton being Everton means this is not certain which has prompted the Sunday People to suggest James McCarthy could be bought as a replacement for the Belgian.
Fellaini is being linked with moves to big clubs all over Europe. He is a heavyweight midfielder who can play the enforcer role just as effectively as he can get into the final third and be more subtle as he creates chances and looks to take them. If they sell him, then based on modern day figures he could go for upwards of £30 million.
It’s thought that McCarthy would cost Everton around £10 million although Roberto Martinez would not make it easy for him to leave the club because the Scot has been one of Wigan’s best players this season. His all round game and style is similar to Fellaini which makes him an ideal target for Everton, currently in sixth two points off of fourth place.
There are some stumbling blocks in this potential move. The first is the fact that McCarthy has not said that he is willing to leave Wigan. He has a regular starting place at the club and is on a long contract with a good wage deal. Martinez has also said he’s not available in previous reports which makes any move for him seem pointless as there is no desire to leave from any angle.
You then need to consider the position Everton will be in if they finish in fourth place or just outside fourth place. If they qualify for the Champions League then they could choose to opt for a more experienced midfielder to come in and play alongside Fellaini who has said he wants to stay and play with Everton in Europe.
However, if the club finish outside the top four then they can sell the Belgian for top money. This would subsequently provide Moyes with a much larger transfer kitty than the £10 million quoted for McCarthy. This means he can afford to approach much higher quality and more experienced midfielders than the Wigan playmaker.
Everton are also looking into going back for Belgian midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe for £3 million, who the club tried to sign during the last summer transfer window. He could well be viewed as along term replacement for Fellaini or any other midfielder who leaves the club in the close future.
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