FELLAIN’ LIKE STARTING OVER – Marouane Fellaini has stated his intention to leave Everton (pic: Inpho)
With Everton avoiding their usual crawling start to the season and David Moyes having strangely little to complain about, life around Goodison Park is pretty sweet these days. But with Premier League hostilities on hold due to the international break, Marouane Fellaini has upset the apple cart by telling a Flemish newspaper that he won’t be with the club for much longer.
Fellaini has revelled in his more advanced role for the Toffees this season, but according to Het Nieuwsblad, he has said this will be his final campaign with the club as he eyes a move to another club and/or league.
“This is my fifth season with Everton. I’ve seen everything. In January or at the end of the season, I’ll join another club or championship,” Fellaini is reported to have said in comments that would seem to leave little room for the classic ‘lost in translation’ defence.
Should David Moyes cede to the Belgian’s wishes, it should at least win a huge windfall for Everton. He wasn’t exactly cheap at £15 million when the Scot signed him from Standard Liege in 2008, but his versatility and excellent hair should now mean Everton can ask the bidding to begin at around the £25 million mark. The 24 year old is contracted to the club until 2016, which also strengthens the club’s hand in future negotiations. He has made 140 appearances for Everton, scoring 22 goals.
Regardless of the money they receive, it’s a blow to Everton and the strong squad Moyes had assembled in recent seasons. The Toffees are 6/4 to claim a place in the Top Six of the Premier League and a less likely, but not impossible 11/2 to force their way into the Top Four.
