Everton in fight to save Fernandes deal

Aug 27 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

BEMUSED Everton officials were last night trying to contact Manuel Fernandes in a bid to resurrect his move to Goodison Park.

The club were stunned to see Valencia claiming that he had joined them from Benfica just hours after verbally agreeing his switch to Everton with chairman Bill Kenwright following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

But the Spaniards released a statement saying they had finalised a six-year deal with the Portuguese Under-21 international and are understood to be paying £10million for a 50% ownership.

However, it is believed Everton were willing to break their transfer record yet again with a £12million fee to buy Fernandes out of his third-party ownership with Global Sports Agency.

As far as the Merseysiders were concerned, it was a done deal following the agreement of a fee, personal terms with the player and the successful completion of his medical.

If his registration had been completed in time, he could even have made his debut as a permanent Everton player against Blackburn.

But officials are now left searching frantically for answers after Fernandes seemed to have a last-minute change of heart and flew from Liverpool to Spain yesterday morning to meet with Valencia.

The 21-year-old has openly expressed his desire for a return to the Premier League following loan spells with Portsmouth and Everton last season, although both clubs were originally unwilling to meet Benfica’s asking price.

His third-party ownership, given the controversy over Carlos Tevez and Javier Masherano joining West Ham last year, also clouded the issue, which is why Everton were in the process of raising the money to own 100% of him.

But because third-party contracts are no problem in Spain’s Primera Liga, the Valencia deal means his owners would retain an interest in the player and any future transfer fees.

Fernandes also appears to have been lured by the prospect of Champions League football, which Valencia will achieve if they defend a 3-0 first-leg lead in Elfsborg this week .

Until Everton hear directly from the player and the Spanish club, they are refusing to accept the deal has collapsed but the Valencia statement claimed Fernandes is due for a medical there and they will unveil him as their player later in the week.

Meanwhile Everton manager David Moyes is hoping Wednesday’s appeal to secure a work permit for record signing Yakubu will finally allow the £11.25million man to complete his move from Middlesbrough.

Moyes is keen for more striking competition and admitted he was reluctant to send on Victor Anichebe on Saturday as the teenager was still recovering from an ankle injury.

“We are not bleating about it but if there is one area we are a little short of at the minute it is up front,” said Moyes.

“Victor Anichebe hadn’t trained all week and I wasn’t sure about putting him on the bench but we had to.

“We had to try and go for a goal and we thought that our last substitution had to be positive, even though James McFadden was struggling to play the 90 minutes.

“And you have to remember that we don’t have James Vaughan or Tim Cahill at the minute.”

That shortage has led Moyes to challenge McFadden to impose himself on the squad as he edges towards full fitness.

It was McFadden who stole the goalscoring glory on Saturday when he struck 12 minutes from time to earn the point against Blackburn.

“He has got an unpredictability about him and he popped up with an important goal for us. He can do that,” said Moyes.

“We want James to play a big part in what we do. We brought him here when he was a young lad and we want him to be a big part of the squad

“I think he’s found it tough because he hasn’t played a lot of football. He’s had a metatarsal injury.

“In fact, he’s only played two 45 minute games in the whole of pre- season. But he had to play the 90 minutes today because of other injuries.

“I think he was actually tired from his midweek performance (for Scotland) but I think the 45 there and the 90 here will put him back on the road to full fitness. It was a good finish.

“He knows what I’m after and he will get better and sharper because I think he has got a little bit more fitness to go. He will get better as the weeks go on.”