Baines admits Everton may be forced to sell him to United
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Bye bye Baines? Left-back admits Everton may be forced to sell him to United as Fergie adds Porto star Moutinho to his shopping list
“It can be a problem for Everton given the financial situation at the club," says England full-back Baines as United plot a £12m bid
Blue to red? Leighton Baines has admitted Everton's cash problems may force them to sell him to Manchester UnitedLeighton Baines has admitted that cash-strapped Everton may be forced to sell him to Manchester United.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed in April that Sir Alex Ferguson had targeted the 27-year-old left-back as a replacement for Patrice Evra – and United are expected to step up their bid to land him by tabling a £12million offer this week.
United are also ready to hijack Tottenham’s attempt to sign Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho from Porto by making a £30m bid.
But landing Baines will be Ferguson’s next piece of business after spending £20m to recruit Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and Nick Powell from Crewe last month.
Nicked: Manchester United have already signed Nick Powell from Crewe Alexander
United were hoping to take advantage of Everton’s crippling financial situation by getting the England defender at a knock-down price of £5m.
Everton value Baines at £15m, but will accept less as they look to give manager David Moyes some funds of his own for summer signings.
Baines is happy at Goodison Park after signing for his hometown club in a £6m deal from Wigan five years ago.
But he is aware of both United’s interest and Everton’s track record in recent years of being forced to cash in on their best players.
Baines said: “I’m aware of what’s been said about United, but I don’t know much beyond that.
“It can be a problem for Everton given the financial situation at the club.
“Over the years the manager has lost players I am sure he would have liked to have kept hold of.
“Maybe the club has needed the money or maybe they have received a substantial bid for a player.
“The club has always done good business in that sense because the manager has always done a good job bringing players in for a certain amount of money.
“When players have moved on he (Moyes) has always been quite savvy about the way he has gone about his business.
“Losing players hasn’t really hindered us because the team never seems to perform worse than it did before.
“Maybe it would have been nice, though, to have hung on to some of the players that have left, added a couple ourselves, and actually improved as a team.”
United are also tracking Moutinho following his outstanding performances for Portugal at Euro 2012.
Portuguezer: Alex Ferguson is hoping to snatch Porto's Joao Moutinho from under Spurs' noses
The 25-year-old was being earmarked by Tottenham as a replacement for Luka Modric if the Croatian midfielder moves to Real Madrid.
But Moutinho’s head has been turned by the new interest from Old Trafford – and United have been told that they will get their man if a fee can be agreed with Porto.
Moutinho has a £40m buy-out clause in his contract, but a bid of around £30m would persuade Porto to sell.
He was signed for Porto by Andre Villas-Boas two years ago and was expected to follow his former boss to White Hart Lane.
But Ferguson knows he must strengthen his midfield after being forced to bring Paul Scholes back out of retirement last season as great rivals Manchester City took the title.
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Please sell him to Liverpool.
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Agreed
sell that flop enrique away -
^^yes lol
Liverpool will need him anyway, Enrique is getting worse as the season goes
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Liverpool will not sell any flop away cos no one is buying.