Fellaini key to toffees

Published : Dec 29, 2012 00:00 IST

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The Belgium international has been outstanding for the Toffees so far this season after being given a more advanced role by boss David Moyes and he was named English Premier League Player of the Month for November.

Marouane Fellaini is in the form of his life and it is little wonder that Everton boss David Moyes is bracing himself for big-money bids for the dynamic midfielder.

The Belgium international has been outstanding for the Toffees so far this season after being given a more advanced role by boss David Moyes and he was named English Premier League Player of the Month for November.

Linking up well with Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic, the 25-year-old with the easily trademark afro hairstyle already has eight goals to his name for the Merseyside outfit this season.

Everton have been notoriously slow starters in the EPL in recent seasons and that has cost them European football, but after winning their first two games this season — with Fellaini scoring in both of those victories — they look capable of mounting a charge for a pot in the lucrative UEFA Champions League.

Fellaini has made no secret of his desire to play in the UEFA Champions League and despite being linked with several leading European clubs, he hopes to compete in Europe’s premier club competition with the Toffees.

“At the moment I am playing well. I am happy — but the most important things are the team and the club,” he said.

“I try to give my maximum in every game. The manager likes it when I play in attack, so at the moment, it’s good for me and the club. I’ve been scoring the goals and I work hard on the pitch. This season we have played well.

"We thank the fans because we have great support. Everybody wants to play Champions League next season so we work hard for this and hopefully we can finish in the top four.” Everton are currently fourth in the EPL table, level on points with Tottenham and just three adrift of Chelsea after such a promising start.

Moyes has seen several star names leave Goodison Park during his reign and although he hopes Fellaini will not be the latest, the Scotsman knows the powerful Belgian is likely to seek pastures new if his side fail to finish in the top four.

The former Preston manager said: “I was dead against selling players and I’m still dead against it. Don’t think people can come and just take my players.

"But I have to realise that if I have top players and I can’t give them trophies, cup finals, European football, I might have to accept that that’s what they’re thinking.

"My biggest job is to make sure that the players here can see that Everton have got a chance and be competitive in the Premier League.

“But Felli knows what I think and I know what he thinks. He’d love to take Everton into the Champions League and that’s what we’ll try to achieve.”

Fellaini has been quoted as saying he wants to play for “one of the biggest clubs in the world”, but is willing to bide his time.

The big-money signing from Standard Liege has become a cult figure at Goodison Park and he only signed a new five-year deal last November. But Manchester United, Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg are just a few of the clubs understood to be interested in signing Everton’s in-form midfielder.

A move away from Merseyside looks unlikely next month and Moyes will be hoping Fellaini and his Toffees team-mates can guide the club into the UEFA Champions League for the first time to enhance their chances of keeping the big fans’ favourite.

With the ability to play in a holding role, an attacking midfielder and a striker there are not many players like Fellaini around and if Everton do lose one of their major assets they will demand a big profit on the GBP15 million they paid for him.

© PA Sport, 2012, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, re-written, re-distributed or commercially exploited. Sportstar is not responsible for any inaccuracy in the material.

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