“It can be a problem for Everton given the financial situation
at the club," says England full-back Baines as United plot a £12m
bid
Leighton Baines has admitted that cash-strapped Everton
may be forced to sell him to Manchester United.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed in April that Sir Alex Ferguson had
targeted the 27-year-old left-back as a replacement for Patrice
Evra – and United are expected to step up their bid to land him by
tabling a £12million offer this week.
United are also ready to hijack Tottenham’s attempt to sign
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho from Porto by making a £30m
bid.
But landing Baines will be Ferguson’s next piece of business
after spending £20m to recruit Shinji Kagawa from Borussia
Dortmund and Nick Powell from Crewe last month.
Nicked: Manchester United have already signed Nick Powell from
Crewe Alexander
United were hoping to take advantage of Everton’s
crippling financial situation by getting the England defender at a
knock-down price of £5m.
Everton value Baines at £15m, but will accept less as they look
to give manager David Moyes some funds of his own for summer
signings.
Baines is happy at Goodison Park after signing for his hometown
club in a £6m deal from Wigan five years ago.
But he is aware of both United’s interest and Everton’s track
record in recent years of being forced to cash in on their best
players.
Baines said: “I’m aware of what’s been said about United, but I
don’t know much beyond that.
“It can be a problem for Everton given the financial situation
at the club.
“Over the years the manager has lost players I am sure he would
have liked to have kept hold of.
“Maybe the club has needed the money or maybe they have received
a substantial bid for a player.
“The club has always done good business in that sense because
the manager has always done a good job bringing players in for a
certain amount of money.
“When players have moved on he (Moyes) has always been quite
savvy about the way he has gone about his business.
“Losing players hasn’t really hindered us because the team never
seems to perform worse than it did before.
“Maybe it would have been nice, though, to have hung on to some
of the players that have left, added a couple ourselves, and
actually improved as a team.”
United are also tracking Moutinho following his outstanding
performances for Portugal at Euro 2012.
Portuguezer: Alex Ferguson is hoping to snatch Porto's Joao
Moutinho from under Spurs' noses
The 25-year-old was being earmarked by Tottenham as a
replacement for Luka Modric if the Croatian midfielder moves to
Real Madrid.
But Moutinho’s head has been turned by the new interest from Old
Trafford – and United have been told that they will get their man
if a fee can be agreed with Porto.
Moutinho has a £40m buy-out clause in his contract, but a bid of
around £30m would persuade Porto to sell.
He was signed for Porto by Andre Villas-Boas two years ago and
was expected to follow his former boss to White Hart Lane.
But Ferguson knows he must strengthen his midfield after being
forced to bring Paul Scholes back out of retirement last season as
great rivals Manchester City took the title.