Stubbs: New deals for duo are crucial

Jul 17 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

ALAN STUBBS believes the new contracts for Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta represent Everton’s most important signings of the summer.

Cahill and Arteta both put pen to paper on new five-year deals last month that will tie them to the club until 2012.

Arteta’s future had been the focus of intense speculation, with La Liga outfits Atletico Madrid and Real Zaragoza reportedly ready to offer at least £8million for his services.

Everton supporters have grown frustrated by the lack of transfer activity in recent months, with Phil Jagielka the only significant signing.

But centre-back Stubbs reckons the decision of Cahill and Arteta to commit to the club is likely to be the best business done by the Goodison outfit this summer.

“Having Tim and Mikel sign new contracts will probably be more beneficial to the team than any new signing coming in,” said Stubbs.

“Keeping them was a must, and if the club didn’t tie them down it would have been a real blow, not just to the squad but to the fans as well.

“It’s great that we’ve tied them down, but we need to now improve to the next level. If that means two big signings a summer then so be it.”

David Moyes will have to wait a little longer for Cahill to take join pre-season preparations after the midfielder yesterday played another

important role as a second-half substitute to help Australia through

to the last eight of the Asia Cup.

Cahill laid on two goals for Mark Viduka in a 16-minute cameo role as the Socceroos beat hosts Thailand 4-0 to set up a quarter-final against cup holders Japan.

Meanwhile, Victor Anichebe reckons Everton can benefit from the competition for places in attack during the forthcoming season.

Anichebe will compete with Andrew Johnson, James Vaughan, James Beattie and James McFadden for a role up front, while the Nigerian reckons new arrival Lukas Jutkiewicz, who scored on his first outing while playing alongside Anichebe in the 1-0 friendly win at Bury, could also make an impact.

And Anichebe said: “There is a lot of competition to be involved on the first day of the season. There’s AJ, Beats, Vaughany, myself, Faddy and even Lukas now.

“We’re all in it together and spurring each other on, it can only benefit the team. It shows that we are moving forward and, realistically, everyone is going to get a chance this year.

“Hopefully we are going to play a lot of games and it’s just a question of being ready.”