Arsenal set to test Everton FC with £24m bid for Marouane Fellaini – Daily Post North Wales

22 Jun 2013 10:06

ARSENAL are expected to finally launch a £24m bid to sign Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has been tracking Fellaini for some time as he looks to bolster his team’s physical presence in midfield.

 The Belgium international has a widely-reported release clause in his Goodison contract that allows him to join a Champions League-qualified club that meets the asking price of £24m.

 Wenger is close to breaking Arsenal’s transfer record with a £22m deal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

 And, armed with significant backing from the club’s board, the Frenchman is now seriously considering smashing the landmark for a second time in a matter of days by making an offer for Fellaini.

 The 25-year-old has made no secret of his desire to appear in the Champions League, and is open to a move away from Goodison following David Moyes’s departure to Manchester United last month.

 New manager Roberto Martinez, however, is keen to retain the core of the side that finished sixth last season and wants to keep Fellaini.

 And he wants to create a “unique” style by adding his own brand of attacking football to the aspects of Everton’s game that have proven the foundation for their progress in recent years.

 “I do feel that it is important that in football you get a winning style,” said the Spaniard.  “Obviously everyone will highlight the late 1980s when the team reached an incredible (reputation) around Europe, and that’s ingrained in the football club.

 “There’s a lot of talk about finding different styles and being attractive to watch.

 “Clearly I’m excited about bringing a mixture of what Everton represents and what Everton stands for together with my beliefs in the game and taking all the good things that Everton have done over the last few seasons. That’s a unique combination.”

 Martinez added: “We need to be a team that is capable of being flexible from a tactical point of view. We need to be in a position where we can keep the ball well and where we can break things down.

 “That’s what I’m really looking forward to – coming up with a unique Everton style. We all need to drive together to be a team that can carry on being competitive in every game we go into, slowly growing into something special.

 “I think when you look at the experience of this group of players, that’s always a help. I’ve got no doubts over the success that this dressing room has had over the last few seasons and I know they can take football principles in very quickly.”