27 Jun 2013 18:20:20
tv confirming that United have had a bid for Leighton Baines rejected, Firstly what does everyone think of him as a potential signing? and also does this mean that the Thiago signing can be sped up as David Moyes must be back from holiday?

Personally I think there are better options available at left back than Baines just because of the fact that he is approaching his 29th birthday. I think a deal for some one like Luke Shaw or Lucas Digne at around £8-10 million would make much more sense?

Thoughts?

TomP

1.) 27 Jun 2013
Great signing. People are too obsessed with age. Players nowadays are top atheletes and can play into their early to mid thirties at the very top level. Baines could give us 4 years and only be 33, not that old especially for a full back. Best of all though is that Evra will probably go.

2.) 27 Jun 2013
I don't think age is an issue for Baines in terms of the fee. I'd be happy if we signed him for £15m max. and moved Evra on. We could still get 4-5 great seasons out of Baines. But I think Luke Shaw is a better option. He could go on to be England's left-back for many years. He is top class for his age.

Digne has signed for PSG btw.

3.) 27 Jun 2013
Luke Shaw isn't available. Unlucky

4.) 27 Jun 2013
Sincerely not trying for a wind up here.
I've never considered Baines even close to good enough for United. I'm dreading this signing.

5.) 27 Jun 2013
I'd prefer Shaw over Digne, at least Shaw has prem experience and Digne has been linked to both Roma and Monaco so don't think we're interested.

6.) 27 Jun 2013
Oh my bad I wasn't aware of Digne's move.

TomP

7.) 27 Jun 2013
Totally agree with fee of 12/15 mil. but no more don't want Everton going daft and asking for 20 mil plus, knowing full well how much Moyes rates Baines. How ever having another England international in the team, would not be a bad thing. One last thing Edds any news on players going out of the club?.
Rock The Red

8.) 27 Jun 2013
Don't need him, waste of time and money when have enough players there and money can be spent in areas that are truly needed

Melwing28

9.) 27 Jun 2013
Luke Shaw and Lucas Digne are not available. Shaw will stay at Southampton until Chelsea come knocking next summer. Digne will sign for PSG. I think Baines is a good signing if the price is right.

Sydney!

10.) 27 Jun 2013
Different player but Thiago has just posted a holiday pic with the caption in English. Maybe a sly clue for his new public?

11.) 27 Jun 2013
I would prefer someone younger than Baines, Luke Shaw would also be my first choice. I still think there is a season or two left in Evra, so Shaw over Baines on that account.

12.) 27 Jun 2013
He'd be a marked improvement on Evra. We need a left back who can go straight into the first team - Shaw is a good two years from that yet.

13.) 27 Jun 2013
While evra needs replacing, we need to replace Nani, Anderson and probably Fletcher much more than we need to replace Evra. Spending 12-15m on Baines is less money to spend on more urgent deals.

Thorne

14.) 27 Jun 2013
You all watching a different player to me? Just becasue he's English and from Everton, he is a very good LB, much better than Evra is now. You only need to look at his stats. He doesn't get in the prem team of the year for being average. Bains is solid defensively, and great going forward! Especially if we're going to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, we need our fullbacks to get forward! He also has a great end product, good cross, shot, and great set piece! He could play for another 5-6 years at the top level and I personally would be very happy with him at united!

Alex Fergusons Condom

15.) 27 Jun 2013
Melwing do u watch football left back is our weakest position Evra has been terrible for the last 2 season just because he scored a couple of goals from corners let's not carried away. Most of the goals we conceded came down his flank, he is now slow and lazy our biggest problem by far and we have no cover fabio went on loan and had a poor season at the worst team in the league and buttner is way off our standard at the moment.

16.) 27 Jun 2013
Your right about Thiago's tweet, In full english, Maybe a good sign indeed.

TomP

17.) 27 Jun 2013
Are these people who do not rate Baines the same ones who did not rate RVP and thought he was to old and to expensive. Agree with the last post BInes as been very consistent for Everton with great returns in goals and assists. And does everyone think we will just give Evra away?
Acker

18.) 27 Jun 2013
Sometimes you need to add experience with potential. Baines isn't as experienced as other 28 year old's in Europe, but in the EPL he is very experienced. For the right price he's a good signing.

Sydney!

19.) 27 Jun 2013
I'm hearing all these negative comments about evra, personally I think he's got couple more years left to give. I also think the money could be spent elsewhere and evra definitely stil has plenty of pace in his locker! Wish this thiago deal would hurry up and be completed. Damon

20.) 27 Jun 2013
I enjoy watching baines and young play together down the left for England, they seem to understand each other well. Would be nice to see that at utd

21.) 28 Jun 2013
I agree that Baines would be a good signing because he has far better stamina and willingness to get back and defend compared to Pat! Like the other poster said his crosses and set pieces are super and Moyes knows him well so I would welcome him with open arms!

I love the fact Thiago's tweet about his holiday is in English, none of his other tweets are at all! Find that very interesting!

Ozwald

22.) 28 Jun 2013
Baines is a waste of money, I would stick Fabio into the team and give him a proper run in the team, Rafael only became a good right back because Neville unexpectedly retired and he was plunged into the deep end, if Fabio turned out to be as good as rafael I would be more than happy and we could then spend this money where it is really needed.

Stew4d

23.) 28 Jun 2013
Like Sydney said, we need to mix experience with potential and getting the right mix is essential. Baines is very experienced and could be ideal for when Vidic leaves and Rio retires. He will go into a back 4 being 5 years or so more experienced than Rafael, Smalling, Jones etc and I think that would be a good option. I think Shaw would be great for the future but he will chose Chelsea as he's a self confessed boyhood fan and wants to go there. Strange seeing as though they turned him away as a kid and Southampton have made him.

24.) 28 Jun 2013
Baines would be a good sign IF manchester United weren't in so much (midfiled) trouble.
Excellent player, one of the best in the world, but Manchester Utd really need so strenghten the mid before getting any player for the back.

25.) 28 Jun 2013
I'm not so much for replacing evra for what he brings to the dressing room in terms of the "United Spirit" and the leadership and experience of so many years, being a battle hardened united player that he is.

26.) 28 Jun 2013
IF we could get baines for say 8-10 million max then it would be a great deal but when your pushing more towards the 15 million mark its a bit overpriced if u ask me. In saying that, that is the way the english market is. Jordi Alba went for 12 million and he was spains 1st choice left back and like 23 where as baines is approaching his 29th bday. Damon

27.) 28 Jun 2013
Everton fan come in peace. Baines is a quality player, you guys do realise he created more chances than any other player in the prem last season and he is a left back. So more than the likes of silva, hazard etc. can't understand all the dislike at him, he will play through injury, works hard and has a quality delivery from dead ball and in open play
Cheeks

28.) 28 Jun 2013
Shaw isn't available this summer, and in terms of his development I think that is a good thing. I expect when he does he will end up at Chelsea, but all the big guns will be in for him. I honestly think Baines would be a brilliant signing for you lot. It has been said to death, but his all round game makes him an exceptional full-back, regardless of age. One of, if not the, most consistent performers in the league. It is very rare to watch Everton and not see him causing problems down the left flank.

29.) 28 Jun 2013
Comments like 'we need midfielders not LB' are so moronic its unreal. just because we have had a bid announced for a LB doesn't mean we aren't signing midfielders - its common knowledge we are after Strootman and Thiago and look likely to sign both at the moment but should we ignore all other areas that need strengthening until these two are paraded in front of the media?

30.) 28 Jun 2013
28 Jun 2013 10:01:22
I really hope Fabio gets his chance, he had injuries & played in a very "difficult" dressing room last season, I think he'll have come back as keen & mature as Rafael. After SIGNING Thiago, we need someone who can sit in the midfield, be offensive or defensive a real "box to box" player who's as good in the air as on the deck who's got bags of PL experience who's settle nicely in the area & knows the Manager very well, oh yeah & terrified us on o d last year, there's only one player we should be looking to Everton for. Fellani plays with a bit of a mean streak! & could be a legend at Manchester United

31.) 28 Jun 2013
Aaron Cresswell small fee and still get two more years out of Evra

32.) 28 Jun 2013
Baines is the best left back in world football at the moment no doubt about it and the stats prove it glad a Everton man has come on here to defend him although it shows the lack of judgment by many United fans saying they would prefer Fabio or Shaw yes I do think Shaw will be class in a few years time but Baines is everything you want in a player and we will get him it spells the end for Evra though who should be of to Monaco for 8m. Katef

33.) 28 Jun 2013
Yeh, I agree with no name above. The fact that we are now looking at LB and maybe Bale/Ronaldo return then that means the Thiago and Strootman deals are practically sealed and maybe need just a few kinks to iron out or the club us waiting to announce them so people should just ease up on the 'we need midfielders not defenders' comments.
In Moyes we must trust.

Special K

34.) 28 Jun 2013
If we got Fellaini who personally I rate too highly, that means Carrick, Strootman and Thiago also Cleverley would get less playing time. So seems pointless to me.

Ozwald

35.) 28 Jun 2013
Why are going "Shaw isn't available" so maybe Baines. Shaw may have great potential but he is 2 or 3 years away from being a top class left back? Baines is in the England team and currently miles ahead of him? I wouldn't say Baines is one of the best left backs in the world personally, and his creating the most chances in the league is slightly masked by the fact he takes all the free kicks, corners AND the style of play Everton have had.
I would say he is a solid left back, good going forward and defensively and doesn't have any major faults. IF Evra is wishing to leave, he is certainly a good soild replacement for a few years, inspiring maybe not but he could come straight in and do a reliable job. Personalyl I think Evra had a decent season last year and still has a year or two left in him and Fabio deserves a chance still, but i'm certainyl not against us signing Baines as long as it doesn't effect strengthenign in other more concerning areas
Invisible STuey

36.) 28 Jun 2013
I think Ian Harte is available for free. He was slow 15 years ago so I would have doubts about his pace!

37.) 28 Jun 2013
Invisible STuey are you for real Baines personifies what our great club is all about he never gives an inch fights for everything is great defender great attacker sweat free kick taker amazing crosser loads of stamina not a cheat or load mouth and never has a bad game and is without doubt the best left back around at the moment backed up by stats so you can't really argue this opne mate it is an opinion but a bad one. Katef

38.) 28 Jun 2013
Maybe we are all looking at this the wrong way round! What if Evra wants to finish his playing career in his native country? Who would blame him for wanting one more big pay day move while it would make sense for
it'd to cash in say 8 million. Shouldnt we now be looking for an experience LB any ideas?

Acker

39.) 28 Jun 2013
Jamiej79
obviously you do not watch football that much to come out with utter rubbish that you have written.
if you honestly think that LB is the main position of the team that needs strenghthening, then you are completely wrong! Have you not seen our midfield, the wings need serious work and so does the center.
If your wanting a new LB, who are you intending to get rid of? Why not give Buttner or Fabio a run out and see what they are made up properly? Evra wasn't that great when he first arrived and nor was Vidic, but given time then worked out for us.

melwing28

40.) 28 Jun 2013
Baines is by far the best left back in the prem. he will score you 5 to 8 goals a season and also create 10.

yes he is 28 but Ashley cole is still class and he's 32 so he has at least 4 to 5 year left at the top level!

41.) 28 Jun 2013
"Comments like 'we need midfieldersnot LB'aresomoronic itsunreal. just because we have had a bid announced for a LB doesn't mean we aren't signing midfielders- its common knowledge we are after Strootman and Thiago and look likely to sign both at the moment but should we ignore all other areas that need strengthening until these two are paraded in front of the media?"

Ok, so do you think we have an unlimited pot of money to spend? If we sign those two cm's, at about 18m each, and a winger for around 30m (because are there any wingers good enough available for less?), and add the young rightback we already signed, that's about 70m, maybe a little more. Add in Garay and Baines and that's at least 100m.

Now we presumably then sell ando, evra and Nani. That's bringing in maybe 30m? If we're lucky.

70m net spend, I very much doubt that.

Taking evra and Baines out of the equation drops that to about 60m, which is still pretty doubtful really.

I know that football finance is not really that straight forwards, but the fact remains that we will strengthen only a few places at a time, and that at the moment, lb should not be our top priority.

Thorne

42.) 28 Jun 2013
Thorne has said it all.
Baines would be a relly good sign, but, like he said, Manchester, although one of the richest clubs in the world, could not afford to spend what City or Chelsea spends.
We still need to get "value from the market".
Citiy can pay 40 mil pounds for a 28 midfilder and, Man Utd, on the other hand, can't. Or might I say that even the supporters would not allow that.
Again: we haven't heard of any definitive sign in the midfield, whereas left back is a place where we still, even after some decline, have a very reliable player.

43.) 28 Jun 2013
Moyes is on some long holiday

44.) 28 Jun 2013
One other thing about Baines.

I was under the impression that there was some sort of understanding that Moyes will not raid Everton (except possibly Fellaini given the well publicized clause in his contract).

Now maybe this isn't important to everyone, but even if this is merely a "gentlemans agreement", I would be very unhappy if Moyes did not honour it, as o always thought this club had class, unlike some.

Don't get me wrong Baines would be the perfect replacement for Evra, but I wouldn't want him at the cost of another player we need more, or at the cost of Moyes betraying the trust Everton placed in him. Honour and class should mean something.

Thorne

45.) 29 Jun 2013
Ye - moyes knew what he was doing not signing a contract at everton so he could come back and pinch players - who will be next fellini maybe - absolute sneak!!

46.) 29 Jun 2013
Baines is 27 why would want him
if we can get Shaw/ Jetro Willams from the Holland squad. that's if we not satisfired with Evra, Butner, Fabio

47.) 01 Jul 2013
I wouldn't pay more than £15m for him. £15m is just right but anymore is too much for a great left back but one who hasn't won a trophy and is 28. Plus we don't need him. Evra has at least 2 years in him and Buttner looks like a great signing