Report: Leighton Baines ready to leave Everton; two MLS sides keen

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Everton defender Leighton Baines is reportedly ready to quit Goodison Park this summer, with two Major League Soccer sides keen.

According to a report from The Sunday Mirror (24/06; page 65), Leighton Baines is apparently ready to quit Everton and follow Wayne Rooney to Major League Soccer, with Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union both keen on the 33-year-old.

Baines has spent more than a decade on the Toffees’ books and has been a tremendous servant for the club, making more than 400 appearances in all competitions and scoring 38 times for the side. It is a remarkable record for a left-back.

However, after a campaign where he made just 22 league appearances – the second lowest total since he arrived at the club – it appears that he may be on his way out of Merseyside before the window closes.

The Sunday Mirror (24/06; page 65) reports that Baines is ready to leave Everton and has offers from Chicago and Philadelphia to consider amid rumours that Rooney will also be heading across the Atlantic.

Baines – who earns £70,000-a-week, according to Spotrac – may have played a less prominent role in recent times, but it would still arguably be a blow for Marco Silva to lose his experience and quality ahead of the manager’s first season with the Toffees.

Everton looked vulnerable down the left-hand side when he was not available, so they will surely have to sign a replacement if they are willing to let the former Wigan man leave. And while having to sign a replacement was always going to be on Silva’s to-do list at some stage, he may have perhaps preferred for the situation to not come to a head during his first window with the club.