Manchester United may need a left-back, and they have been pursuing Everton’s Leighton Baines, but a move looks further away than ever.
Manchester United’s defensive concerns were highlighted at the weekend as they conceded three in a pre-season friendly against Hannover 96.
One of their most pressing issues is at left-back, with no cover for Patrice Evra after loaning Fabio da Silva out to QPR for the season.
One man they have been persistently linked with is Everton defender Leighton Baines, with chief executive David Gill said to have discussed a move with Bill Kenwright.
Everton’s asking price of £17 million is said to have put United off, and now it looks like the move is dead in the water, despite United’s need becoming even more pressing.
Why? United can blame their rivals Manchester City for that.
Everton are keen to invest in their squad, but have no money to do so, or had no money rather. Now they have sold Jack Rodwell, they can do that.
The £12 million should be more than enough to allow Everton to make the necessary improvements to the squad, and Rodwell barely featured in 2012 when the club enjoyed their most successful part of last season. A shrewd move indeed.
They do not need to sell Leighton Baines, as it was previously perceived that they did.
Everton are aiming upwards, they will want to push on akin to how Newcastle did and crash the top five. After all they finished ahead of Liverpool last season, and while it is unclear how Brendan Rodgers side will gel, David Moyes knows exactly what to expect from his team.
When they line up against Manchester United next Monday, rest assured Baines will be wearing Everton blue, as they no longer have to consider a sale for they have all the transfer funds they need.
image: © wonker
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