'Liverpool target Everton's Steven Pienaar'

21 April 2010 11:10
The South Africa international's contract at Goodison Park expires in 14 months time and a new deal has yet to be finalised. [LNB]Pienaar has shone for Everton this season and manager David Moyes reportedly had to fend off interest from Chelsea and Tottenham in the January transfer window to keep the 28 year-old on Merseyside. [LNB] Related ArticlesLiverpool travel to Madrid: day two liveLiverpool and Fulham face 24-hour journeysVolcano debate: which sport goes while we have a chance?Benitez unimpressed with travel chaosArteta points finger at PedersenPremier League tableMoyes said: "Pienaar is at a club that really suits him and sometimes a player has to decide what is best for him. Everton has been good for Steven. If anybody wanted to leave they'd be poorer for it."[LNB]According to the Daily Mail, Pienaar is valued at £10 million and Liverpool have long been admirers of his combative nature and work rate. [LNB]With Yossi Benayoun likely to be on his way out of Anfield come the end of the season, Pienaar is viewed as an ideal replacement, but Everton are determined to keep the midfielder out of the clutches of their city rivals by offering him a new £50,000 a week contract. [LNB]Pienaar's agent, Ivan Modia, has insisted his client is happy at Everton but, with a number of Europe's top clubs circling, he has not ruled out a future away from Goodison Park. [LNB]"At the moment we are looking at every situation and it will be sorted one way or another before the World Cup," Modia said. [LNB]"We have had some interest expressed from clubs in Europe but we haven't talked to them because everything must go through Everton because he is under contract. [LNB]"It is possible (Pienaar could leave) but it is also possible he will stay at the club. [LNB]"I am not saying he is leaving the club because that is not true. [LNB]"We are in talks but I think it would be disrespectful to Everton [to elaborate] because we have a good relationship with the club. [LNB]"Negotiations have been ongoing since the start of the year but it has not been an intense process. [LNB][LNB]

Source: Telegraph