Baines’ Everton pledge will turn screw on Moyes to replace Evra

It’s sugary music to the ears of Everton fans that their much coveted left-back Leighton Baines will reportedly pen a new long-term Goodison deal this month.

Contrastingly, it leaves Manchester United boss David Moyes facing the music that he will have to look elsewhere to replace current first choice left-back Patrice Evra, who is out of contract in the summer.

In a week where Everton’s top-four bid looks to have been somewhat derailed by the loss of precocious midfielder Ross Barkley for up to six weeks through injury – the club have received a timely morale booster with the news Baines is set to commit his future to the Toffees.

Now the feat of securing Champions League football this season – currently rated at 5/1 by Ladbrokes – adopts a slightly rosier complexion.

However, Baines’ former mentor, Moyes, will be less than enamoured with the news as the Scot had made no bones of his desires to tempt the full-back to Old Trafford.

This begs the obvious question of who Moyes will turn to as a long-term replacement for the 32-year-old Evra who it’s widely perceived will set sail for French shores when his current deal expires in six months.

Having been linked heavily with Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao in the summer, this potential deal is likely to rear its head again now.

Another player being mentioned is Southampton’s highly-rated young left-back Luke Shaw and given the doubt over the future of Saints’ chairman Nicola Cortese, this could end up being one to keep close tabs on.

Realistically United’s title defence is already surrendered, though 40/1 is the price which argues against that theory for those brave enough, while the top four is a far more attainable target according to Ladbrokes, at 9/4.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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