Everton FC Transfer Rumour Mill: Blues move for £15m McCarthy, Martinez … – Liverpool Echo

12 Aug 2013 11:38

Everton are linked with Wigan’s James McCarthy

Everton FC are weighing up a £15million bid for James McCarthy.

Wigan will allow James McCarthy to join Everton, however, the move depends on the future of Blues midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is bracing himself for a £40m bid from Manchester United for Fellaini and Leighton Baines this week.

He sees Republic of Ireland midfielder McCarthy as the perfect replacement for Fellaini and is ready to swoop on his former club for a player who is rated as the best outside the Premier League.

Martinez has identified FC Braga’s £1.5million-rated Elderson Echiejile as a possible replacement for United target Baines.

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Everton beat Real Betis in final pre-season friendly (pics: Gareth Jones)

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Echiejile, 25, was part of the Nigeria squad that took part in the Confederations Cup this summer and has 33 caps for his country.

Braga have a £4m release clause in Echiejile’s contract, but accept they will have to sell at a fraction of that price as the defender has just a year remaining on his contract.

Fellaini’s future was cast further into doubt on Sunday as the Belgian midfielder was left out of Roberto Martinez’s squad for Everton’s final pre-season friendly against Real Betis at Goodison Park.

Everton’s official Twitter feed stated that Fellaini was missing due to ‘an infected cut in his lower leg’, although he was at Goodison to witness his side’s final pre-season game.

Finally, Everton are in danger of missing out on prime defensive target Toby Alderweireld after Spartak Moscow became the first club to lodge an official bid for the Ajax centre-back.

[View the story “Everton FC rumour mill – 2012/2013” on Storify]