Everton left-back Leighton Baines is close to agreeing a new, long-term deal at the club, according to the BBC. Baines, who has been continually linked with a transfer to Manchester United in the past, is expected to commit the rest of his topflight career to the Goodison Park outfit. United made two failed bids for the 29-year-old last summer but Everton swiftly rejected their £12 million and £28 million offers. The latter bid was to also include Marouane Fellaini, who did arrive at Old Trafford in a £27.5 million deal. But it appears Baines will not be following suit, with the Toffees expected to announce shortly that the defender has put pen to paper on a fresh contract. Baines signed for Everton for just £6 million when he left Wigan Athletic in August 2007 and has made over 200 appearances for the Merseyside club. He helped the Toffees reach the 2009 FA Cup Final, which was won 2-1 by Chelsea, and is also in line to make England manager Roy Hodgson's final 23-man squad for this summer's World Cup. Everton's next big task will be persuading young sensation Ross Barkley to follow in Baines's footsteps and also sign a new deal at Goodison Park.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
