Leighton Baines urged to forget Man Utd and stay at Everton FC

Visit Save For Later

by Crunch Sports Staff

Posted

Leighton Baines (credit: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar hopes the club will keep hold of Leighton Baines, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Crunchsports.com understands Baines, who has been linked with the Red Devils for some time, remains their top defensive target, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson seeing him as a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra, 31.

Ferguson recently confirmed he wants a new left-back signed before the start of the new Premier League season to provide cover and competition for the France international, although Everton are yet to receive a bid for the 27-year-old.

And Pienaar, who re-signed for Everton this week 18 months after leaving the club for Tottenham, hopes the Toffees will turn down any bids that are made before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

He told The Guardian: "It's not up to me. It's up to the club to keep their best players but hopefully he'll stay and so will the rest of the guys. It will be important for the team.

"We had a good understanding in the last couple of seasons so, if he stays, it will just make everyone happy as well because we know how important he is to the entire team.

"He can score goals from set pieces and it's not just me who benefits from playing alongside him. He's a vital player for the club - everyone knows it from the manager to the supporters. Let's hope and see if we can hold on to him."

He added: "Leighton texted me a few weeks ago asking me what was happening with me but I didn't ask him about his future.

"I know he's had some great seasons at the club and, if he does get the opportunity to move, I think everyone will respect it.

"But for the club it's important to keep your best players and we all want him to stay and he knows it. It's not in our hands, though."

Like Like

All Soccer News

Recent Transfer News Articles

Chelsea FC role appeals to Marco Materazzi24 May 2013
Marco Materazzi has revealed that he would love to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea this summer. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager after he leaves Real Madrid at the start of next month. Materazzi retired from football at the end of 2011 after 10...
Man Utd target Thiago Alcantara urged to stay at FC Barcelona24 May 2013
Thiago Alcantara, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, should stay at Barcelona, according to team-mate Xavi.Alcantara has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time, with Arsenal having monitored his progress over the past couple of years, while last month it was ...
Arsenal FC target Stevan Jovetic wants to stay in Italy - agent24 May 2013
Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic, who is a target for Arsenal, wants to stay in Italy next season, according to his agent.Jovetic is understood to be Arsenal's top summer target as manager Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his squad before the start of next season, but the Gunners face competition...
Chelsea FC could sign Cristiano Ronaldo AND Jose Mourinho - Ramon Calderon24 May 2013
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea, former club president Ramon Calderon has claimed. Earlier this season, Ronaldo claimed he was unhappy with a "professional issue" at Real, which has led to speculation that he could leave the Bernabeu when the transfer window...
Chelsea FC striker Romelu Lukaku keen on Borussia Dortmund move24 May 2013
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that a move to Borussia Dortmund would appeal to him if he is sent out on loan again next season. Lukaku spent last season at West Brom and revealed admitted that he is still hoping to become a success at Chelsea, but several clubs are keen on taking him o...
Chelsea FC striker Fernando Torres wants to play under Jose Mourinho next season24 May 2013
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres wants to have the chance to work under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge next season. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager and it has been confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid at the start of next month. A numbe...
Arsenal FC closing in on deal for Ashley Williams - report24 May 2013
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Swansea defender Ashley Williams. Liverpool were linked with Williams, who was made Swansea captain under former manager Brendan Rodgers, who is now in charge at Anfield, during the January transfer window. But reports in recent weeks have suggest...
Chelsea FC, Man Utd target Fabio Coentrao ready to quit Real Madrid CF24 May 2013
Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao, who has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, has revealed he is ready to follow Jose Mourinho out of the club this summer. Coentrao, who signed a five-year contract at the Bernabeu when he joined Real from Benfica in July 2011, was linked with a move ...
Liverpool FC favourites to sign Man Utd target Asmir Begovic24 May 2013
Liverpool are favourites to sign Asmir Begovic after the Stoke City goalkeeper was quoted as saying that he wants to move to Anfield this summer. Manchester United were linked with Begovic during the January transfer window and are believed to have sent scouts to watch the Bosnia international in r...

Recent Articles

Shaw to Man Utd? Jovetic to Arsenal FC? Neymar to FC Barcelona? Friday's transfer round-up1 minute ago
Friday's round up of the top transfer stories from the past 24 hours... - Wayne Rooney is still determined to quit Manchester United this summer, according to the . - And Rooney fears he is being forced out of Manchester United - and into exile with Paris Saint-Germain, according to the . - Incomin...
Man Utd targets James Rodriguez, Joao Moutinho join AS Monaco in €70m deal1 hour 2 minutes ago
AS Monaco have spent big money to sign Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez, who have been linked with Manchester United. United have been linked with Rodriguez for some time, and the Colombia international was widely seen as a possible replacement for Nani, who is out of contract next summ...
Chelsea FC boss Rafael Benitez set for Napoli job1 hour 12 minutes ago
Rafael Benitez looks set to be in charge of Napoli next season.Chelsea's outgoing interim manager had last week confirmed he was expecting a number of offers to come his way over the summer and had revealed that finding a job in England was his "priority".But speaking on Friday, Napoli president Au...
Chelsea FC players talking about Jose Mourinho return - Demba Ba24 May 2013
Chelsea striker Demba Ba says he and his team-mates are excited about the prospect of Jose Mourinho returning to the club this summer. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager and it has been confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid at the start of n...
French Open 2013 - Roger Federer praises Rafael Nadal's consistency24 May 2013
Roger Federer has praised Rafael Nadal's consistency ahead of the start of the 2013 French Open. He would never admit it, but Federer must be relieved that Nadal isn't in his half of the draw this year. And with Andy Murray not competing, you have to think that the Swiss has a fantastic opportunity...
Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona target Neymar would be 'huge' for Real Madrid CF24 May 2013
Real Madrid would make a "huge coup" by winning the race to sign Santos striker Neymar this summer, according to the club's former director Jorge Valdano. Neymar, who is out of contract in June 2014, is arguably the most sought after player in world football today and has been linked with a number ...
Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC target Christian Benteke 'disgusted' by story - agent24 May 2013
Christian Benteke, who has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, is "disgusted" by reports suggesting he would try and force a move away from Aston Villa. A national newspaper had suggested that Benteke, who was quoted as saying he would find it hard to turn down the chance "to join a club like A...
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich Champions League final kick-off time24 May 2013
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich takes place on Saturday night in the 2012-13 Champions League final.The game, which takes place at Wembley Stadium, is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 BST and airs live in the United Kingdom on ITV/ITV HD and on Sky Sports 1/Sky Sports 1 HD.Bayern Munich are favou...
Liverpool FC-Asmir Begovic speculation dismissed by Stoke24 May 2013
Stoke City have dismissed a report linking Asmir Begovic with a move to Liverpool. Liverpool are the bookmakers' favourites to sign Begovic this summer after the 25-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United, was quoted as saying: "I want to start preparing on July 10, with all ...