Source: Team_Talk
Brown pessimistic over Toffees pair
Motherwell manager Craig Brown admits the club would have to sell a player to have any chance of keeping Lukas Jutkiewicz or John Ruddy.[LNB] Striker Jutkiewicz is keen to remain at Fir Park next season but, like fellow loan player Ruddy, has just one year left on his Everton contract.[LNB]Everton are likely to cash in on Jutkiewicz and possibly Ruddy, who have both been a major factor in Motherwell's European charge, which continues at Celtic Park tomorrow.[LNB]Brown has not ruled out the prospect of chairman John Boyle spending transfer money in the knowledge that the players could be sold on for a higher fee.[LNB]But he feels Motherwell would first have to sell Mark Reynolds, who has been attracting interest from clubs in England and abroad and is keen to further his career.[LNB]"The chairman has been noted for suggesting that in the past but we haven't suggested it at the moment," Brown said.[LNB]"Things are tight all over and all I know is the budget, like other clubs, is very restricted.[LNB]"We would have to sell before we could buy and we would be buying at a much lesser price than the money we got.[LNB]"We don't anticipate selling anyone. There was a thought Mark Reynolds would be sold. He may be, we have had a lot of interest in Mark, but not a specific offer.[LNB]"But I think he's an outstanding centre-back and I'm astonished that he's still here.[LNB]"I'm pleased we've still got him but for his sake and probably for the finances of the club, it would be beneficial that someone comes in with a decent offer."[LNB]Jutkiewicz yesterday urged Everton not to price him out of a move to Fir Park.[LNB]But Brown said: "I think it will be taken out of his hands. David Moyes feels he could either use him or sell him.[LNB]"I spoke to David a couple of weeks ago and he said he thinks, if he's not going to be in the Everton team, there's not much mileage in letting him stay here because he could sell him and put the money towards a big-time striker.[LNB]"We've asked if they could extend his loan for next season."[LNB]Brown is also pessimistic about the prospects of keeping Ruddy, who will miss the Celtic Park clash with a thigh injury.[LNB]"His situation is exactly the same," the former Scotland manager said.[LNB]"There has been interest in him in England, David admitted that.[LNB]"David said he could get money for him tomorrow. So that's your answer, we're going to struggle to keep John Ruddy."[LNB]Motherwell ran Celtic close at Parkhead earlier in April but Neil Lennon's side scraped a 2-1 win during Motherwell's run of four consecutive defeats.[LNB]But they bounced back with an impressive 2-0 win at Hearts last weekend to regain fourth spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.[LNB]"We don't go with any inferior complex," Brown said. "I thought we played very well against Dundee United after the game with Celtic, which we also deserved something from.[LNB]"The Hearts game vindicated me because we had been playing well.[LNB]"Earlier in the season we were lucky to win at St Johnstone but we were very unlucky to lose against Dundee United and Celtic, and hopefully the breaks will even out."[LNB]Meanwhile, Motherwell have announced that adults buying season tickets in the Davie Cooper Stand next season can receive two free season tickets for under-16s.
