Baines: sell for £16m in January. Yes or No?

[Big Doug]

Problem is if he doesn't sign a new deal we risk going into next season with a near 30 year old LB with only 1 year left on his contract and we all know that ******** moyes will offer an insulting £6 mil or so bid for him in that scenario which would mean either accepting that or risk losing him on a free.
Because of that £15/16 mil I would take and use to bring in a replacement LB (maybe ben davies from Swansea? ) and a replacement for distin at CB (bruno martins indi?) That way we would have the remaining 10-15 mil most likely left of the felliani money to either go towards another midfielder or to be used alongside the tv money in the summer for that big money striker we need be it lukaku if we could or if not someone like remy

 

[TheFinnFan]

It is all about what Leighton wants. He wouldnt want to leave Everton into a position where he walks and Everton gets peanuts..
Bobby wont be standing in his way if he truly wants it. Theyll be looking to do it in a matter that would benefit the club...
cmoon leighton, sign a new one

 

[St Domingos 1878]

NO!!!!

It is not acceptable to sell our best players.

Leighton is an outstanding player. Yes, he is a left back but one that is very capable of winning games for us.

Keep at all costs.

 

[Rook]

Don't sell, he's durable and quality for us and I doubt we could get 16M for him.

 

[dholliday]

wow...it's quite literally 50/50

Yes = 50 votes
No = 50 votes


Maybe Baines' relatively poor form is also a reasoning for some (tho' not my reasoning)

 

[SteKelly]

Out for a month apparently with a fractured toe.

 

[Tubey]

Baines cost £5m to begin with.

And how many left-backs of his quality have been bought since for that kind of money?

It's massively unlikely that lightning will strike twice. Not only that, he's a local lad. You want these kind of players forming the spine of your team.

 

[mawders]

a couple of reasons why baines might not have hit top form. 1) new system, 2) Pienaar being out for a while. Baines is the best left back in the league and one of the best in europe. Selling him is just plain stupid, unless he wants to go....which we don't know if he does or doesn't.

I say stop doom mongering

 

[Minimeister]

Of course I don't want the lad to be out but can't help thinking he needs a break. Looks like he's been struggling with his ankle for ages and that can't be helping his form.

 

[neil999]

Out for a month apparently with a fractured toe.

just read that on guardian website, but sounded a bit like they were guessing?

 

[Furey1878]

If he wants to go.... Yes.

Otherwise, no need to sell.

 

[Librarian]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/24/leighton-baines-everton-liverpool?CMP=twt_gu

Leighton Baines is facing a month out with a fractured toe, suffered during Everton's pulsating 3-3 draw with ********* on Saturday....

...Baines left Goodison Park on crutches and had a scan on Saturday night but will require further tests on Monday to discover the full extent of the injury. The influential left-back is hopeful of returning within a month but will miss a demanding period for Roberto Martínez's side, including Premier League matches against Stoke City, Manchester United – who tried several times to sign the 28-year-old in the summer – Arsenal, Fulham and Swansea City.

 

[phil j]

Im a bit shocked about this poll tbf...

I agree, one of our own, has shown amazing loyalty in the past & tipped by many as being in pole position for the England spot at next years world cup... Also must have dreamt about him knocking in a couple of incredible free kicks against West Ham .. But a couple of indifferent displays & it all counts for nothing..

 

[Bruce Wayne]

For me it's kinda of a fuzzy thing. We've seen this season that he hasn't been as influential as in past years, but how much of that is temporary? Deulofeau is only here on loan, as is Lukaku.

Hopefully Deulofeau will improve and be a feature for the rest of the season, whilst we know how influential Lukaku has been, but it's probable that neither will be here next year.

Pienaar will be another year older.

It suggests we'll need to shuffle things up a bit to ensure we maintain our current attacking verve, and we'd need to do that whether Baines stays or not. Suppose the only difference is that if he does stay we'd have no cash to do so.

The other thing I guess is how likely is it that either Oviedo or Garbutt might be able to step up? Seems unlikely but I haven't seen much of either of them to make a judgement.

 

[Sozzled]

For me it's kinda of a fuzzy thing. We've seen this season that he hasn't been as influential as in past years, but how much of that is temporary? Deulofeau is only here on loan, as is Lukaku.

Hopefully Deulofeau will improve and be a feature for the rest of the season, whilst we know how influential Lukaku has been, but it's probable that neither will be here next year.

Pienaar will be another year older.

It suggests we'll need to shuffle things up a bit to ensure we maintain our current attacking verve, and we'd need to do that whether Baines stays or not. Suppose the only difference is that if he does stay we'd have no cash to do so.

The other thing I guess is how likely is it that either Oviedo or Garbutt might be able to step up? Seems unlikely but I haven't seen much of either of them to make a judgement.

I think the fact we haven't seen much of either of them tells it's own story.