Do Everton match Baines’ ambitions or is he happy at Goodison Park? Could any of the top clubs afford him?
Now 27, Leighton Baines is entering the stage of his career where he will have to start asking himself questions.
Saturday’s narrow FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool merely confirmed Everton’s status as ‘nearly men’- and he remains in search of his first professional winners medal.
Everton fans have long bemoaned the lack of investment in their club, making life more difficult for manager David Moyes and his squad of players, and without it- it is difficult to see the club making the ‘big jump’.
That said, the way Newcastle United have performed this season, and bought shrewdly, should inspire Everton to believe it is possible to get it right.
Whether Baines will decide to stick around and wait and see is another matter.
He is at the stage of his career where he has solidified his claim to be one of England’s top two left-backs, in competition with Ashley Cole, and many would credibly argue that he is a superior player with more in his locker.
Will he get the nod at Euro 2012?
If he does, it may sway him to feel that he can continue to achieve what he wants at Everton. If he spends the summer watching on from the bench, it could have the effect of inspiring him to want to play at a higher level, namely Champions League football.
With that said, it is worth assessing his potential destinations if he wants to leave Goodison.
A move abroad looks to be a non-starter, Baines even rejected to chance to go to the World Cup in South Africa citing homesickness.
In the Premier League, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham currently occupy the top four, with Newcastle and Chelsea close behind.
United could do with some competition for Patrice Evra, but would likely not be able to afford Baines, who would cost upwards of £15 million, which United would be unwilling to pay for a star aged 27 or over, with the majority of their big money moves going on younger players. Besides Baines would want guarantees over first-team football, so forget United.
City too, have both Gael Clichy and Alexander Kolarov in the position, and while money is no problem for them, there is no indication they want to do battle with Everton again after their raid for Joleon Lescott several seasons ago.
Arsenal are an interesting proposition, and Baines would be an upgrade from both Kieran Gibbs and the defensively challenged Andre Santos. However it is doubtful that Arsene Wenger would sanction such a big move, sceptical of inflated prices for English players.
Tottenham have Benoit Assou-Ekotto as a fixture at left-back, but they could be one club willing to splash a bit of cash around this summer, especially if they end up selling Luka Modric for a huge sum. The biggest threat to Everton is that David Moyes takes the Spurs job if Redknapp leaves and decides to bring Baines with him.
Beyond that, we can’t see either Chelsea or Newcastle bidding, either because of Ashley Cole or in Newcastle’s case their business model, leaving Liverpool as the only alternative, which is really a non-starter.
So looking at the situation, even if Baines decides he wants to move on, he probably won’t because of a lack of options. None of the top clubs have either a big gap, or the will to pay big money to recruit a new left-back, leaving his future looking like remaining in Everton blue.
The only possible out for him we can see is the ‘more unlikely than likely’ event that Moyes takes the Tottenham job, and brings Baines with him.
Baines, like the rest of the Everton squad, will have to hope that the squad is strengthened next summer, they get off to a good start for once, and launch another challenge for cup silverware.
What do you think Baines’ future holds?
image: © ericthefish
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
