Manchester United have made an official bid of £12m for Leighton Baines turned down by Everton
United have long been linked with the 28-year-old Baines, and this is the second straight summer they have had a bid turned down by Everton for the England left-back.
Ironically it was David Moyes who turned down United’s inquiries telling then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson that it would take £18m to sign Baines.
Fergie balked at that price then, but now Moyes is back in for the player with a bid of £12m. United feeling that Baines is one year older and about to enter the final two years of his contract, making him less valuable than he was a year ago.
Everton disagree, and media reports suggest that they now want £20m for the defender. That is a little too high, and I would not be surprised if both sides comprised in the middle at £15m.
Baines would be a natural fit for United and solve two problems that they had last season. One if that Evra is not the defender he used to be, so Baines is an upgrade defensively. Second is that United struggled to generate much width down the left last season due to a combination of poor play and injuries to Young and Nani. Baines gives United that attacking threat down the left, forcing teams to play a little wider defensively, thereby freeing up more room in the middle of the pitch for van Persie.
What do you think of Leighton Baines. Would he be a good signing for United?
