Moutinho Watch: Replacement for Lee Carsley won’t be cheap

Jun 12 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

BEFORE Portugal’s win over the Czech Republic last night, ITV pundit Andy Townsend went through a highlights reel showing the merits of reported Everton target, Joao Moutinho.

Studio guest David Moyes was forced to laugh along slightly nervously when the former Ireland midfielder chirped: “Well that ought to add another £2million to his value!”

Moyes was understandably cagey regarding the extent of Everton’s interest in the 21-year-old midfielder but did confirm he thought Moutinho is a “very good player.”

After setting up Portugal’s second goal in their previous game, the Sporting CP man had what can only be described as a ‘quieter game’ against the Czechs but while the likes of Ronaldo, Deco and Simao dominated possession for the victors, Moutinho rarely wasted a pass when the ball came to him and despite his diminutive stature, he showed the kind of battling qualities that would be needed in the Premier League.

The kind of players once dismissed as ‘water carriers’ by Eric Cantona are starting to receive the recognition they deserve with the likes of Claude Makelele and Javier Mascherano now commanding massive fees.

A youthful box-to-box model like Moutinho therefore would certainly not come on the cheap.

There were none of the ultra-ambitious but often wasteful attempted passes seen too many times at Goodison Park last season from his compatriot Manuel Fernandes.

Lee Carsley, who Moyes is looking to replace, was always something of an unsung hero but his value to Everton can be measured by how much his successor may cost – the bidding for Moutinho is expected to start at what would be a club-record £12million.