http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/09/everton-phil-jagielka-sylvain-distin
- own contract negotiations "going well"
Sylvain Distin believes Arsenal's pursuit of Phil Jagielka is destined to fail as the Everton and England defender has given no indication he wants to swap Goodison Park for The Emirates.
For the second summer in succession Arsène Wenger has tried to persuade Everton to sell Jagielka, who turns 29 next week, only to meet firm resistance from David Moyes. Despite a lack of funds and no new signings at Goodison, Everton rejected a £12m offer from Arsenal a fortnight ago and it would take at least another £8m before Moyes even considers parting with a player he believes could be a future captain at the club. There has been no further contact between the clubs since the £12m approach and Distin, Jagielka's central defensive partner at Everton, is confident the former Sheffield United captain would be content to remain on Merseyside.
"Jags is an amazing player, you don't play for your country if you're not," said Distin. "He's still young and still improving. He had some injury problems but seems to be over them now and he is quality. He's got top clubs after him and that's a sign of his quality but there's no sign that he's going. There's no reason to be worried.
"He's not come out and said he wants to go anywhere, so I guess that means he wants to stay. I don't think any players want to leave here, to be honest. There's no point in saying anything to them about it unless they come out and say they want to go. If he came to me and asked about his future, then I'd tell him what I think, but that has not happened and we are happy he's staying."
Distin's own long-term future at Everton is currently uncertain having entered the final 12 months of the three-year contract he signed on his £5m arrival from Portsmouth in 2009. Talks have opened on a new deal for the 33-year-old, however, and he is keen to extend his Everton career alongside Jagielka.
The former Newcastle and Manchester City defender explained: "I want to stay here, I'm happy at Everton and, if I can do so, then fine. If I feel I have to change clubs, then I will do it. I'm quite honest about that. If I don't feel good, then I say so. But I do feel good about being here and, if I can stay, then I will.
"We have started talks about a new contract and I am encouraged by that at the moment. It's going well, quite positive. This club has one of the best atmospheres in the dressing room and that's very important given the time you spend together. The football's going well, so altogether I think this is the best I've felt at any club."
Everton's board has come in for increased criticism this summer over the lack of additions to Moyes's squad and, though Distin, right, believes keeping the likes of Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell is more important than new signings, he admits the squad would struggle to withstand an injury crisis. "If you ask anyone if they should improve and get new players, whether it's here, Spurs, Chelsea, Man United or wherever, they will all say the same," said Distin. "The main thing, though, is keeping the big players and that's what we have done. But the next step is obviously to bring others in. We have enough quality in the squad and if we don't get many injuries we should be okay. If we do, of course, things could be a bit different."
article continues
- own contract negotiations "going well"
Sylvain Distin believes Arsenal's pursuit of Phil Jagielka is destined to fail as the Everton and England defender has given no indication he wants to swap Goodison Park for The Emirates.
For the second summer in succession Arsène Wenger has tried to persuade Everton to sell Jagielka, who turns 29 next week, only to meet firm resistance from David Moyes. Despite a lack of funds and no new signings at Goodison, Everton rejected a £12m offer from Arsenal a fortnight ago and it would take at least another £8m before Moyes even considers parting with a player he believes could be a future captain at the club. There has been no further contact between the clubs since the £12m approach and Distin, Jagielka's central defensive partner at Everton, is confident the former Sheffield United captain would be content to remain on Merseyside.
"Jags is an amazing player, you don't play for your country if you're not," said Distin. "He's still young and still improving. He had some injury problems but seems to be over them now and he is quality. He's got top clubs after him and that's a sign of his quality but there's no sign that he's going. There's no reason to be worried.
"He's not come out and said he wants to go anywhere, so I guess that means he wants to stay. I don't think any players want to leave here, to be honest. There's no point in saying anything to them about it unless they come out and say they want to go. If he came to me and asked about his future, then I'd tell him what I think, but that has not happened and we are happy he's staying."
Distin's own long-term future at Everton is currently uncertain having entered the final 12 months of the three-year contract he signed on his £5m arrival from Portsmouth in 2009. Talks have opened on a new deal for the 33-year-old, however, and he is keen to extend his Everton career alongside Jagielka.
The former Newcastle and Manchester City defender explained: "I want to stay here, I'm happy at Everton and, if I can do so, then fine. If I feel I have to change clubs, then I will do it. I'm quite honest about that. If I don't feel good, then I say so. But I do feel good about being here and, if I can stay, then I will.
"We have started talks about a new contract and I am encouraged by that at the moment. It's going well, quite positive. This club has one of the best atmospheres in the dressing room and that's very important given the time you spend together. The football's going well, so altogether I think this is the best I've felt at any club."
Everton's board has come in for increased criticism this summer over the lack of additions to Moyes's squad and, though Distin, right, believes keeping the likes of Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell is more important than new signings, he admits the squad would struggle to withstand an injury crisis. "If you ask anyone if they should improve and get new players, whether it's here, Spurs, Chelsea, Man United or wherever, they will all say the same," said Distin. "The main thing, though, is keeping the big players and that's what we have done. But the next step is obviously to bring others in. We have enough quality in the squad and if we don't get many injuries we should be okay. If we do, of course, things could be a bit different."
article continues
