Apr 21

Steven Pienaar’s Everton future to be decided before World Cup, says agent

• South African midfielder has one year left on Goodison deal
• ‘We have had some interest expressed from clubs in Europe’

The agent of Everton’s midfielder Steven Pienaar has warned the club to resolve contract negotiations before the World Cup or risk losing him. The 28-year-old has just over a year to run on his existing deal but wants an extension to be agreed before he flies out to join his national team next month.

Pienaar’s agent, Ivan Modia, claimed his client is happy at the club but has not ruled out a future away from Goodison Park. “At the moment we are looking at every situation and it will be sorted one way or another before the World Cup,” he said. “We have had some interest expressed from clubs in Europe but we haven’t talked to them because everything must go through Everton because he is under contract.

“It is possible [Pienaar could leave] but it is also possible he will stay at the club. I am not saying he is leaving because that is not true. We are in talks but I think it would be disrespectful to Everton [to elaborate] because we have a good relationship with the club.

“Negotiations have been ongoing since the start of the year but it has not been an intense process. We are talking and are patient. We are waiting to see what is going to happen behind closed doors. What I think is there are two different options. One is to get a new contract but if he did not he would be looking for a solution.

“He goes to the World Cup this summer and that would be a good way for Everton to make money from it.”

The latest club to join the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham in being linked with Pienaar are Liverpool.

David Moyes has said he thinks it would be unwise for the South African to leave and Modia admits Pienaar owed the Everton manager a great deal.

“He loves the club and loves the fans and he really appreciates the opportunity that Everton gave him when he was having a really difficult time in his career,” he added. “David Moyes took him on loan [from Borussia Dortmund in 2007] with an option to buy him and that changed his career because he was having a bit of a nightmare in Germany.”

EvertonPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

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Jan 29

David Moyes says Everton can still qualify for Europe

• Manager says it is essential for his and the team’s development
• But they will have to fight ‘incredibly hard’ after a poor start

David Moyes said yesterday that Everton can qualify for European football next season and that it was essential to the progress of the club and his development as a manager.

Everton have played in European competition in four of the past five seasons under Moyes only for a miserable start to this campaign to diminish their prospects of a return. Eight league games unbeaten, however, have lifted Everton to ninth in the table and Moyes has challenged his players to continue their impressive qualifying record with a sustained run of form.

“I’m ambitious and I want to be managing in European competition. I tell the players that. I want them to have the same drive as me,” said Moyes, whose side travels to Wigan Athletic this afternoon. “In the past few years, we have been closer to it but this year we are not. We are going to have to fight incredibly hard and somehow scrape in by the skin of our teeth. But we have to keep believing we can make it.”

Everton face Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League next month and Moyes admits the club would sorely miss European competition if they fell short this season. He added: “European football has helped both me and the team develop. It has been good for us and want to make it last so we will try and push again, there is a long way to go but we will see if we can finish in the top half and see what happens. I would miss it, the players would, and so would the club.

“Good players want to play in Europe, and we want to be there to make us attractive to these players. Players want to see European football. They want the Champions League, and if not that, the Europa League is the next best thing. We have to show potential. We have to show people this is where we should be, where we hope to be, and that we are making headway and moving in the right direction.”

David MoyesEvertonPremier LeagueAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

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Jan 21

Galatasaray loan Manchester City’s Jô until end of the season

• Forward released after poor form and discipline
• Player recently suspended after unauthorised trip to Brazil

Jô has joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of this season from Manchester City.

The Brazilian forward had been on a season’s loan at Everton but David Moyes agreed to release him after being disappointed by both his form and his discipline. Jô was recently suspended after making an unauthorised trip to Brazil.

The Turkish club’s sporting director, Haldun Ustunel, came to England to conclude a deal for a player who has failed to make a consistent impact since join City from CSKA Moscow for £19m in 2008.

Jô is the second player to move to Galatasaray from a Premier League club this month, following the defender Lucas Neill, who left Everton.

Everton later confirmed their association with Jô – a player who had two loan spells at Goodison Park, making a total of 36 appearances and scoring seven goals – was at an end.

A statement on the club’s official website, added: “A season-long loan deal for the player had been agreed between Everton and Manchester City in the summer, but this has been cut short.

“Earlier this month David Moyes revealed that Jô had been suspended by the club for returning to Brazil without permission. That sanction proved temporary but Jô’s association with Everton has now ended.”

Transfer windowManchester CityGalatasarayEvertonguardian.co.uk

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