Manchester United have opened
negotiations with Everton over a deal for
Marouane Fellaini, as David Moyes fears
that his top midfield target, Cesc Fábregas
of Barcelona, could prove out of reach.
Moyes, who has so far added only the
young Uruguayan full-back Guillermo
Varela to his squad before his debut
season at Old Trafford, worked with
Fellaini at Everton, having signed him
for £15m from Standard Liege in 2008.
Fellaini is understood to have offers from
elsewhere in the Premier League but the
25-year-old would relish the opportunity
to join United and continue his working
relationship with Moyes. United are in
pole position for his signature. Fellaini's
Everton contract contained a £23m
buyout clause but this expired on 31 July,
meaning that his value will determined
by the market.
United's need for reinforcement in
midfield has been intensified by Paul
Scholes's retirement at the end of last
season and Moyes has pushed to take
Fábregas, the former Arsenal captain,
seeing two bids turned down by
Barcelona. Moyes has also been linked
with a move for Luka Modric of Real
Madrid although that, too, has been
fraught with complications.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager,
has said for the past three weeks that his
information was that Fábregas would
stay at Camp Nou for at least another
season. Despite the acrimony of
Fábregas's departure from Arsenal,
Wenger has retained a good relationship
with him while the player's agent is the
son of David Dein, Wenger's closest
contact in the game. In this summer of
the contractual transfer clause, Arsenal
have one that effectively entitles them to
first refusal on Fábregas. Wenger's
information would appear to be well-
sourced.
Fellaini is a different type of midfielder,
with reservations over his passing ability
and disciplinary record. But he has skill,
tremendous presence and threat, as
evidenced by his 12 goals for Everton last
season.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/07/marouane-fellaini-manchester-united-everton

long overdue...the man is a maestro!