Moyes faces battle with Benfica to bag Fernandes

EVERTON will have to dig deep to land Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes after the Portuguese giants insisted they want to cling on to the 21-year-old.

Benfica’s claim comes despite the third party-owned player seemingly being on offer to Barclays Premier League clubs.

Fernandes spent the second half of last season on loan at Goodison Park, where problems with his third-party ownership scuppered any thoughts of making the deal permanent. But with Everton boss David Moyes having failed to prise Argentina international Luis Gonzalez from Porto, he is trying again to reach a satisfactory agreement.

However, a Benfica spokesman said they do not want to lose the talented international.

“The player has a deal with us and it does not enter our plans to see him exit this summer.”

Although Fernandes made a big impact on Everton fans last season, the player has also suggested he would be happy to stay in Lisbon.

Benfica own just 50% of the player but Fernandes said: “I am happy at Benfica and now I am only thinking about a good season ahead.”

Moyes has had a £10 million (€14.7 million) bid for Gonzalez turned down by Porto, who ended debate about the midfielder’s future by buying up the other 50% of the player last night from his third party owners.

So the spotlight has turned on Fernandes, with an £8 million (€11.8 million) fee suggested.

However, Everton would want to structure a deal that would see them fully own the player and not run into third party ownership problems.

But Benfica made it clear earlier this summer that they would want £12 million (€17.7 million) for the player.

Everton have also been linked with a £10 million move for Middlesbrough striker Yakubu, but club sources suggested yesterday that such a price was also more than they would spend.

But Moyes does need striking reinforcements having sold James Beattie to Sheffield United for £4 million (€5.9 million) and with youngster James Vaughan out until November with a dislocated shoulder.