Marouane Fellaini‘s recent struggles may have irked some Everton fans, but they haven’t lessened Chelsea’s admiration for him.
The Blues are determined to beat their Premier League rivals to Fellaini’s signature. They hope a £25 million ($38 million) transfer offer and a long-term contract will lure the Belgian midfielder from Everton to West London, according to the Star.
“The Londoners had hoped to sign him during the last transfer window but a deal couldn’t be thrashed out by all the parties involved,” the report claims.
“Fellaini’s form has dipped since he was subjected to the transfer speculation and Everton might just now feel the time is right to sell.
“Chelsea are believed to be ready to offer a five-year deal with wages of £4.5 ($6.9 million).”
Fellaini has been a driving force behind Everton’s success in recent seasons. His physical presence and all-action displays have made him one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders.
Those same qualities have also turned the 25-year-old into one of the league’s most sought-after players. His contract reportedly contains a buyout clause of around £22 million ($33.5 million), which puts him within reach of the league’s richest clubs. Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are expected to bid for the Everton star’s services. Leading clubs from continental Europe could join the race in the coming weeks.
Everton bought Fellaini from Belgium’s Standard Liege in 2008. He more than justified the club-record £15 million ($22.8 million) transfer fee over the course of the last five seasons. But last fall, he said he revealed his desire to play for one of Europe’s top clubs and compete for the game’s most prestigious trophies. Those comments, combined with reports of the buyout clause, launched widespread speculation about his future, which has continued throughout the current season.
Barring a late surge, Everton will finish outside of the top four and fail to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. It’s likely that Fellaini will listen to offers from clubs playing in Europe’s elite competition and call time on his Everton career. It’s tough to tell where he prefers to play. He recently moved from Liverpool to Manchester, but that was only because the Merseyside women wouldn’t leave him alone. Chelsea hopes he hasn’t settled into his new digs and will consider moving again — this time to posh West London.
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