Why there is more than just Fellaini's future riding on his contract talks with Everton

By David Anderson

Published 11:18 24/10/11

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There is much more than Marouane Fellaini's Everton future riding on his contract talks with the club.

After the departures of Stephen Pienaar and Mikel Arteta, the outcome of Everton's battle to hang on to Fellaini will say much about which direction the club is headed.

If he stays and commits his future to Everton, that will send out a massive signal that the Blues are not a selling club.

It will tell the likes of Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley that they can fulfil their ambitions at Goodison Park.

If he goes, then it is the clearest signal yet that Everton can't hang on to their best players.

And while Everton have survived the loss of Pienaar and Arteta, Fellaini's departure would be a hammer blow.

It's hard to believe the Belgian, who likes like something out of the cartoon Hair Bear Bunch, is still only 23.

He's already acknowledged as one of the best holding midfielders around and is returning to top form after injury ended his last campaign.

David Moyes appreciates his worth to Everton and, in tandem with the board, is doing all he can to persuade Fellaini to stay.

He knows the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal are circling Goodison, hoping to pick off another one of his star players.

Everton are prepared to make Fellaini the best-paid player in Everton's history on over £70,000-a-week if he signs a new deal with them.

Moyes insists a deal is "close" and the negotiations are believed to be down to the last few details.

However the devil is often in the detail and Evertonians won't relax until Fellaini signs on the dotted line.

The clock is ticking and Moyes has already said that the club may look to sell him in January if the new contract on the table before him remains unsigned.

Fellaini will have just 18 months left on his current deal and hard-up Everton know his value will plummet if he runs down his contract.

They are prepared to take what they can for him in the next transfer window rather than seeing his value decrease by another few million come the end of the season.

The stakes are high for Everton and Evertonians are praying Fellaini stays.

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