'Everton sell very expensively; that's what we do’: Hypocritical Moyes goes to war with former club but should think back to his time on Merseyside and show Blues respect



Adored by supporters during his time on Merseyside, David Moyes is going to war against former club Everton with his Manchester United army, but make no mistake - the Toffees are fully prepared to do battle and will not roll over.

Having spent 11 years at Goodison Park fighting tooth and nail to keep his star players from the clutches of those with more financial clout, Moyes has made a derisory bid of £28m for the Blues’ two star players, Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.

Fully aware of Fellaini’s £23m buy-out clause which ran out at the start of the month, and having bid £12m for the services of Baines earlier this summer, the Scot’s latest offer is £7m LESS than Everton’s lowest valuation of the pair.

Hypocritical: Former boss David Moyes fought hard to keep his star players during his time at Everton

Staying? Evertonians were delighted to see Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini kicking off the season

The club have swiftly and angrily turned down United’s 'insulting' offer, an amount many Evertonians think is laughable - especially as the £16m put on the table for Fellaini is a similar amount the Toffees forked out for him in 2008.

Of course every manager will try to sign a player as cheaply as possible but Moyes knows what Baines and Fellaini are worth to Everton and his current offer is well short of the club's valuation.

Moyes turned Everton from perennial relegation candidates into a team more than capable of mixing it with the Premier League big boys, but his latest bid shows a complete lack of respect for the club that gave him the platform, and their blessing, to eventually manage one of the biggest sides in world football.

What will baffle Evertonians most is, after comments made throughout his Everton tenure, Moyes’ raid on his former club is completely hypocritical both in the amount offered and the timing of the bid.



Star men: Everton released a statement and described United's latest bid for Baines and Fellaini as 'insulting'

Possible reunion? Moyes will have to considerably increase his bid for Fellaini if he wants to sign the midfielder

Class Act: Baines was in top form for Everton last season and fans are desperately keen for him to stay

In 2009, the former Blues boss was incensed by Manchester City’s pursuit of centre back Joleon Lescott.

Moyes claimed the England international’s head had been turned, and with him in defence on the opening day of the season, Everton were thrashed 6-1 at home to Arsenal.

‘The way it has been handled is disgusting and all it has done is disrupted our club,’ he said angrily. ‘Most clubs have a price for a player. The offers were not big enough.’

When City first contacted Everton about the England international there were just two weeks of the transfer window remaining and Moyes was quoted as saying: ‘There is not a chance we will sell this close to the end of the window.’

Distraction: Joleon Lescott's switch to Man City disrupted Everton's preparations ahead of the 2009/10 season

Four years on, he has bid at exactly the same time.

Does he expect Everton to buckle now there is a different man in the Everton hotseat?

Is the low offer just to unsettle the players and show they’re wanted by a club who can offer Champions League football and a shot at the league title?



Losing Wayne Rooney and Mikel Arteta during the final hours of past transfer deadlines, Moyes knows all too well the detrimental effect a player leaving so late can have on a club when there is so little time to sign reinforcements.

Former Blues: Both Mikel Arteta (left) and Wayne Rooney left Everton in the final hours of Transfer Deadline Day



Everton need to take a leaf out of Mersey rivals Liverpool’s book. After star striker Luis Suarez demanded to leave the club, the Reds maintained the player wasn't going anywhere and it appears the Uruguayan will now stay at Anfield.



The Blues must do all they can to keep their own star players on Merseyside.



Having publically failed in his attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara this summer, some fans believe Moyes’ assault on his former club stinks of desperation and some sections of the United support would loathe to part with upwards of £35m to capture the Everton duo.

Baines, who created more chances than any other player in the whole of Europe last season, and Fellaini, who has been an important midfield lynchpin since arriving at the club, are both integral to Everton’s plans moving forward.

Going back: Having failed to land Fabregas or Thiago, Moyes has switched his attentions to his former club

It doesn’t matter how much United believe Baines and Fellaini are worth, they are Everton players, belong to Everton and should only be sold at a price Everton feel they are worth.

It’s up to new boss Roberto Martinez and Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright, who considers Moyes a close friend, to stand firm and continue the mantra that 'Everton sell very expensively; that's what we do. We don't sell cheap,’ a phrase coined by Moyes himself.

After all he did for the club, Moyes will be eternally loved by the majority of Everton fans. However, after this stunt, don't be surprised to hear a few jeers aimed his way when he returns to Goodison in the away team dugout on April 19.

Despite his long association with the club, David Moyes is no longer Everton, he is 100 per cent Manchester United and solely has their interests at heart.

Decisions: Chairman Bill Kenwright and manager Roberto Martinez must stand firm if Everton are to progress