EVERTON FC are closely monitoring Steven Naismith’s bid to walk away from Rangers as a free agent before making a potential move for the Scotland striker.
The 25-year-old does not wish to be part of the uncertain new era at Ibrox, and alongside team-mate Steven Whittaker has announced that he wants a fresh start away from the stricken club.
But the Charles Green consortium that bought Rangers’ assets say they will take legal action to block the moves, and warned off potential suitors for the players with threats they would pursue damages.
David Moyes is interested in giving Naismith the chance to reprise the impressive attacking partnership he formed with Nikica Jelavic at Rangers before the Croatian signed for the Toffees in January, but will only be able to move quickly if no transfer fee is involved.
Naismith is seen as a candidate to fill the number 10 role at Goodison, an area where Moyes wants to add competition, and although he has suffered two serious knee ligament injuries during his time at Rangers, a cut-price deal would represent a risk worth taking.
Although Green was in defiant move yesterday, Scotland’s Professional Football Association have previously stated that players were entitled to become free agents if they objected to the transfer of their contracts to the new company.
After Naismith and Scotland international right-back Whittaker had explained the reasons behind their decision at a media conference, Green was quick to issue his own rebuttal. He said in a statement: “It is a great pity that certain players have chosen this time to attempt to tear up their contracts and walk away from the club.
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