May 19th, 2010
Highly rated Everton full-back Seamus Coleman has signed a new four-year contract with the club. Having signed from Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2008, Coleman has so far made seven appearances for the Blues.
Coleman has been on loan to Championship high-fliers Blackpool of late, impressing many with his direct running and goal threat. His new deal at Everton keeps him at Goodison Park until June 2014.
He will appear for Blackpool in Saturday’s playoff final against Cardiff before signing his new deal and returning to Everton ahead of the new season.
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May 18th, 2010
As expected, Everton midfielder Tim As expected, Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has renewed his contract at the club until 2014. The 30-year-old Australian international had two years remaining on his previous deal.
Cahill has hit scored 56 goals in 209 games since arriving from Millwall in 2004, and recently stated his love for Everton claiming he would sign for life given the opportunity.
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May 18th, 2010
Not content with raiding Everton for central defender Joleon Lescott last summer, megabucks Manchester City are apparently now after his ex-defensive partner Phil Jagielka – and teenage star Jack Rodwell, according to caughtoffside.com.
Jagielka has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off – ironically suffered against City at Goodison last year – but is now the target of many ‘top’ sides, including City’s rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.
The other half of the suggested £32m offer, Rodwell is being linked with everyone at the moment – City being the latest club. Everton are currently trying to tie him down to a long-term contract to ward off interest from other clubs.
Posted in May 2010, Transfers | No Comments »
May 18th, 2010
Two of Everton’s long-term injury victims have handed the club an end-of-season boost, with both Marouane Fellaini and Dan Gosling expected to return to action sooner than previously thought.
Belgian midfielder Fellaini is slightly ahead of his recovery schedule, according to Assistant Manager Steve Round, and will hopefully be back in time for pre-season training.
Gosling, meanwhile, actually suffered less damage to his anterior cruciate ligament than had been thought at first. He will not be fit in time for next season, but his expected recovery time is now apparently much shorter.
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May 18th, 2010
Everton’s new Slovakian goalkeeper Jan Mucha has paid his first visit to Finch Farm ahead of this summer move from Legia Warsaw.
The 27-year-old met his new team-mates at the training ground, practised with Tim Howard and was impressed with the facilities: “It was very nice at the training ground. I felt very welcome there so everything is positive,” he told the official website.
Mucha will join up with his nation’s squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. He officially becomes an Everton player next month.
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May 18th, 2010
Everton have announced today, via the official website, that Head of Sports Medicine Mick Rathbone has left the club.
“I would like to personally thank Mick for the contribution he has made to Everton since his arrival in 2002,” said manager David Moyes.
Midlander Rathbone played for Birmingham, Blackburn and Preston in his playing career, later joining North End as a physio before moving to Goodison in 2002.
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May 16th, 2010
According to the Sunday Mirror, Manchester United and Arsenal are battling to sign Everton central defender Phil Jagielka, who has made a successful return to first-team action in the last quarter of the season. Jagielka is said to be valued at £15m.
Aston Villa have joined Everton in the chase for Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford who will become a free agent on 1 July, says the Sunday Express. Earlier reports, including from Leeds Chairman Ken Bates, had suggested that Beckford had already signed a deal at Goodison.
Goal.com claims that Everton are poised to make a move to sign highly-rated Torino defender and Italian under-21 international defender Angelo Ogbonna. The left-footed centre-back or left-back has made 21 appearances this season.
Marseille’s France winger Hatem Ben Arfa, 23, could make an £8m move to Everton, as reported in the News of the World. Everton have been linked with the international previously, and contact is thought to have been made with his agent.
Posted in May 2010, Transfers | No Comments »
May 13th, 2010
Unlikely Bellamy link
The Daily Mirror claims that Everton are planning to swoop for Manchester City’s Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy is apparently valued at £7million pounds which, coupled with the facts that his wages are high and he used to play for Liverpool make a deal highly unlikely.
Former West Ham man Bellamy will be 31 in July and has scored thirteen goals this season.
Beckford on a Bosman?
A story that has been gathering pace in recent weeks, the Daily Mail has today reported that Leeds United striker Jermain Beckford will move to Everton on a free transfer this summer.
Having previously claimed it was not too late for Leeds to hold on to Beckford, but today’s comments suggest otherwise: “Although the manager would like him to stay, I suspect it is unlikely but he will go with our best wishes.”
Arteta contract talks stall
Mikel Arteta is, according to the Mirror, stalling Everton over a new contract that would keep him at Goodison for the rest of his career.
At 28, the midfielder is arguably just coming into his prime years, and has a host of admirers, including Sevilla, Valencia and Atlético Madrid in his homeland, Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City.
Top names on the list, apparently, are Arsenal, who see the Basque as a replacement for Fabregas if he moves to Barcelona, or Manchester United, who see him as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes.
Posted in May 2010, Transfers | No Comments »
May 12th, 2010
Pienaar to decide future after World Cup
Everton midfielder is to finalise his future plans after this summer’s World Cup in his homeland South Africa, according to BBC Sport.
“I’ve made it clear before that I want to stay at Everton,” said the former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund man. When asked if he believes he will be at Goodison next season, Pienaar added: “You have to ask God that. If God wants me to come back after the World Cup healthy and happy then I’ll be here.
Rodwell to sign new deal
The Sun is reporting that teenage midfielder Jack Rodwell will turn his back on a potential move away from the club to sign a new contract at Everton.
His existing deal still has four years left to run, but David Moyes is believed to be on the verge of tying the youngster down to an improved deal to ward off interest from Manchester United.
Arteta Arsenal bound?
Reports in the Daily Mail are suggesting that Arsenal will make a move for Everton’s Mikel Arteta if captain Cesc Fabregas leaves for Barcelona.
The 28-year-old still has 2 years left on his contract, and is set to be offered a new deal over the summer.
World Cup Blues
A number of Everton men have made it into provisional squad lists for this summer’s World Cup:
Leighton Baines (England)
Tim Cahill (Australia)
John Heitinga (Netherlands)
Tom Howard (USA)
Steven Pienaar (South Africa)
Victor Anichebe (Nigeria)
Joseph Yobo (Nigeria)
Yakubu (Nigeria)
Meanwhile, ex-blues Philippe Senderos (Switzerland) and Landon Donovan (USA) have been called up to their respective squads. There are no places, however, for Phil Jagielka (England), Louis Saha (France), or Mikel Arteta (Spain).
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May 11th, 2010
Everton’s Australian midfielder Tim Cahill is close to agreeing a new contract with the Blues, according to the club’s official website. The 30-year-old is set to sign a new four-year deal which would take his contract up to 2014.
“I will sign here for life. I respect everyone so much and hopefully I am here for a long time,” the midfielder said. Cahill was rested for Everton’s final Premier League game of the season, but will soon join up with the Australia squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa and Everton are keen to complete his new deal before he leaves.
Meanwhile, discussions with fellow midfielders Steven Pienaar and Jack Rodwell are continuing. Pienaar’s present deal expires in 2011, and Everton are keen to tie him down to a long-term contract as soon as possible. Rodwell, on the other hand, has thoroughly impressed with his mature midfield displays this season and is to be awarded improved terms to ward off interest from other clubs.
Posted in May 2010 | No Comments »