What The Papers Say - Jan 12

Blues linked to Man Utd midfielder, plus fallout from White Hart Lane.

The views below are taken from the local and national newspapers and do not necessarily reflect those of Everton.

EVERTON FC are keen on signing Manchester United’s Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson for £1m.

David Moyes is believed to be eyeing-up a deal for the 24-year-old, who has been capped 17 times for his country, and scored 10 goals for the Old Trafford club since making his debut in 2005.

The Everton FC boss has a meagre budget to operate in this month’s transfer window, and also needs a centre forward and a central defender following injuries to Phil Jagielka, and Sylvain Distin during last night’s defeat by Spurs.

And while Gibson has failed to establish a regular first team place under Alex Ferguson, Moyes could be ready to try and coax the best out of him at Goodison Park.

Gibson fell foul of Ferguson last month when he was fined after a night out on Boxing Day which saw him, Wayne Rooney and Johnny Evans accused of being unfit to train properly the following day.

The Derry-born six-footer, who almost joined Sunderland in the summer, previously failed to sparkle on loan spells at Royal Antwerp and Wolves, but Moyes would hope the lure of regular first team football and a new challenge could see him fulfil his potential.

His £1m price tag would also make him a good value addition for Everton FC.




LEIGHTON Baines believes Everton FC’s experience of past injury outbreaks will help them weather their latest crisis – as Sylvain Distin became the newest casualty in EFC's ranks during the defeat by Spurs.

Distin’s withdrawal, in the second half of a 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane, leaves Everton FC with only one senior fit central defender, John Heitinga, and inexperienced youngster Shane Duffy as cover.

And although Baines admits the need to sign a centre back in this month’s transfer window has become paramount, he thinks the resilience of Everton FC’s squad will shine through.

The England left-back said: “We are really down to the bare bones now. Duffy as came on and did well but you just find yourself hoping another doesn’t go down because who’s left after that? Hopefully we’ll have Hibbo back soon because he’s another defender as well, but we’re struggling or numbers.

“It’s nothing new. We’ve been here before and we know what we’ve got to do in those situations. We can adapt.

“Whoever comes in, whether it’s someone coming back or Duffy, we’ll just get on with it. The lads will play wherever you ask them and do whatever job you ask them. It’s not ideal but we’ve got people who are willing which is important. There’s no egos or selfishness and people unwilling to play in a position they don’t consider their best. Everyone wants to do a job.”

Baines admitted he was as frustrated as manager David Moyes at the widening gap between Everton and Spurs, even though he believes the Blues were not out-played in the first half last night.

“It wasn’t long ago that there was more of a level playing field, but they’ve obviously been able to go and spend money and take top players,” he said.

“Look at the two situations now. We’re struggling for a recognised centre half, and it’s there for all to see.

“We looked alright and not under massive threat, but maybe they felt comfortable in terms of our goal threat. It was just a case of getting in at half time, and it was a poor goal to concede.

“They’re a good enough side now that when they scored again they can take the sting out of the game. They used their heads and kept the ball really well.”

Despite their defeat Everton remain in 11th place in the Premier League, and skipper Phil Neville was equally defiant at the loss of Distin, who joined Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert, Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman on the sidelines.

“It’s just the way of the world at Everton,” he said. “It’s been like that in the past and the manager finds a way to get us results. It’s not something we panic again. Shane is a big strong lad and he did well when he came on.”




DAVID MOYES will have to wait to find out the extent of Sylvain Distin’s injury – as Everton FC’s problems at centre-half near breaking point.

Defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last night was compounded with Distin’s hamstring injury which forced him off early in the second half and now leaves Everton FC down to the bare bones in his position as they prepare for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

Distin, 34, is expected to undergo tests at Finch Farm today to offer Moyes a proper diagnosis of the Frenchman’s situation but given the nature of the injury, it looks unlikely the former Manchester City defender be fit for the weekend’s game in the West Midlands which would leave the side with just one senior centre-half – John Heitinga.

Shane Duffy, the 20-year-old recalled early from his loan spell with Scunthorpe United last week, filled the void admirably for the final thirty minutes at White Hart Lane last night but the Irishman is not seen as the solution whilst Distin and Phil Jagielka – sidelined for up to six weeks – are out.

When asked about the nature and severity of Distin’s injury, Moyes said: “It’s his hamstring but I’m not too sure.”

On an exasperating night in the capital, Everton’s appeal for a late penalty, when Royston Drenthe was clumsily bundled over in the area by Younes Kaboul, were ignored by referee Martin Atkinson.

Moyes refused to comment on the decision or the performance of the official who has already enraged Everton this season by wrongly sending off Jack Rodwell in October’s derby.

And though Moyes believes his side were competitive, he admits Everton lacked any cutting edge to trouble title-chasing Spurs.

“We had played okay and had made a few chances ourselves, but we needed to try and be clinical when we got chances here,” said Moyes.

“But we weren’t clinical, though I don’t think we played that badly.

“We tried to give Tottenham a game and for most of it, I think we did.

“Tottenham are doing well and so is the manager with the team they’ve got.

“They are title contenders, they are a really good team but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we did okay tonight and we played quite well.

“We tried to give them a game as much as we could.

“We really needed something, someone to strike a ball cleanly and the ball to go in but we never had that.”

Asked whether he felt Everton should have been awarded a penalty, Moyes said: “I would rather not comment on the officials, or certainly on this official.”




Everton are closing on a cut-price £1million deal for Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson.

Manager David Moyes has a limited budget but is desperate to add bodies to his squad which has been decimated by injuries and sees 24-year-old Gibson as a player who can lift his team.

The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to cement a first team place at Old Trafford and was in trouble with manager Sir Alex Ferguson last month when he, Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans were all fined following a night out on Boxing Day which left them unfit to train properly the following day.

However, Moyes has a knack of getting the best out of players and believes Gibson's best years are yet to come. He will hope to wrap the deal up by the weekend and will then look to sign a striker and centre half.




Manchester United's Darron Gibson has emerged as a £2.5million target for Everton.

Gibson has been told by manager Sir Alex Ferguson that he can leave United, and is understood to have held preliminary talks with the Goodison Park club.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder was set to leave United for Sunderland in the summer, but the proposed move broke down over personal terms.

Gibson has made just two appearances this season, having fallen out of favour. He has also suffered a broken metatarsal.

The 24-year-old was fined, along with Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans, following a boozy Boxing Day night-out which angered Fergie.

With Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Tom Cleverley and Anderson ahead of him in the pecking order, plus the return of Paul Scholes from a short;-lived retirement, Gibson has little chance of re-establishing himself at United.

Gibson needs to be playing regularly to give himself every chance of making the Ireland squad for Euro 2012, and is understood to be keen on a move to the Toffees.

Meanwhile, fellow United midfielder Paul Pogba could be on his way to arch-rivals City after his representatives failed to agree a new deal to keep him at Old Trafford.

The 18-year-old is viewed as one of United's brightest prospects, but is said to have grown frustrated with his lack of first-team chances and is open to a move at the end of this season when his contract is up.

City have been keeping a close eye on the France Under-19 star's situation and are ready to offer Pogba a lucrative deal, although no formal discussions have taken place between the parties.

United were accused of illegally poaching Pogba from his former club Le Havre, a charge that was never proven.

They could now find themselves in a similar position, with Pogba ready to walk out on them.

Ravel Morrison, another of United's stars of the future, could also be on his way in the summer when his contract expires. Talks over a new deal understood to have broken down.
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