Toffees boss David Moyes is troubled by plans to sell off his
star assets
Manchester United's bid to sign Leighton Baines
has been boosted by the news Everton have made plans to recruit
Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ward.
Having snapped up midfielder Shinji Kagawa from
Borussia Dortmund last week, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is
now keen to secure a deal for England left-back Baines.
Everton are understood to be demanding £15million for
Baines, but United hope to reduce that fee by offering players for
loan as part of the deal.
And United will be encouraged to find out Everton have
already starting looking for replacements by joining the race to
sign Wolves left-back Ward.
Like Baines, Ward is in Poland and Ukraine on Euro 2012
duty but the 26-year-old is expected to quit Molineux this summer.
The thought of losing Baines is troubling Goodison Park boss David
Moyes.
He will seek talks with chairman Bill Kenwright if the
likes of Baines and Marouane Fellaini are sold.
Moyes has discussed extending his contract, which has
12 months to run. But he has asked for assurances that he would not
have to cash in on his star players to raise money for
recruitments.
Last summer, Everton lost Mikel Arteta in a £10m deal
to Arsenal, and it wasn’t until Moyes was allowed to recruit
Darron Gibson and Nikica Jelavic, then bring back Steven Piernaar
on loan, that the Blues recovered to finish a respectable
seventh.
During his 10 years at the club, Moyes has been given
the final say on both arrivals and departures from his dressing
room.
Assurances: Everton manager David Moyes
 "Target: Stephen Ward")
Target: Stephen Ward
But he has become increasingly disillusioned
about working under a budget that doesn’t even allow him to spend
the cash he generates through player sales.
Kenwright’s hopes of extending the 49-year-old Scot’s
contract until 2015 are likely to hinge on the club’s resolve to
keep two of their most important players.
Sunderland and Stoke have already made their interest
known in left-back Ward, but Everton have also asked to be kept
up-to-date with developments.
Ward was one of the few highlights of Wolves’ dismal
relegation campaign and was one of only two players, Fulham’s
Brede Hangeland being the other, to play every minute of the
Premier League season.
Having suffered relegation to the Championship, Ward is
now looking forward to a successful Euro 2012 campaign with
Republic of Ireland – starting against Croatia in Poznan
tonight.
“It’s been a long, tough season and a lot of lows at
Wolves, but for myself and the Irish lads it’s great we are in the
squad,” said Ward.
“There is no better remedy than going out to represent
your country at a major championships.”