EVERTON are not expecting Jack Rodwell to leave the club this summer – despite reports linking the midfielder with a move away from Merseyside.
Rumours circulated over the weekend that Blues boss David Moyes had decided to cash in on the highly-rated 20-year-old in a bid to raise funds for a summer reshape of his squad, and suggested that Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham were locked in a three-way fight for Rodwell’s signature.
But the ECHO understands that no such decision has been made about his future, and that no bids have been received by Everton.
Rodwell himself signed a lucrative, five-year contract at Goodison Park last summer, and has given no indication that he is looking to leave the club, despite an indifferent, injury-hit campaign, in which he made just 13 Premier League starts.
And Moyes has repeatedly stressed his desire to keep hold of the England Under-21 man, who can play as a central defender as well as in midfield, along with fellow prized assets Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Marouane Fellaini.
Moyes knows he will need to sell players before he can add to his squad this summer, with funds tight at Goodison Park. The Scot is desperate to add at least one striker to his ranks, but will look to offload the likes of Joseph Yobo and Yakubu before considering parting with any of his first-team stars.
Yobo is expected to sign a five-year contract with Fenerbahce this week, having ironed out the final details of a £4m switch to the Turkish champions, with whom he spent last season on loan.
The Nigerian defender is not expected to join the rest of the Blues squad for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday, as he brings an end to his nine-year stay on Merseyside.
His countryman Yakubu, meanwhile, is also attracting interest from Turkey. The striker spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Leicester City, and is desperate to seal a permanent move away from Goodison. Both Fenerbahce and Besiktas have been linked, though the 28-year-old’s wage demands could prove a stumbling block.
Elsewhere, Blues skipper Phil Neville will put pen to paper on a new one-year contract extension this week – a move that will see him play out the rest of his career at Goodison Park.
The 35-year-old has agreed terms on the new deal, which will keep him on Merseyside until 2013, and should finalise the contract upon his return to training at Finch Farm this week.
