Will Marouane Fellaini Leave Everton This Summer? 5 Potential Destinations

Everton face a summer of frustration, appearing unable to attain any of their primary transfer targets, so they find themselves hamstrung financially. Head of PR Ian Ross discussed the topic on Talksport yesterday morning. 

Fans would ideally like the club to offload several fringe players to raise funds that can be put towards strengthening the squad. Yet in a market where only a select few can splash the cash, thus far it has proven time consuming and unsuccessful. Only James Vaughan has ended up bringing in any income. 

A quickfire way to gain much needed resources would be to sell a big name player. Jack Rodwell and Mikel Arteta proved the more popular options in a recent poll on B/R, but both produced mediocre seasons in 2011. They may struggle for takers at the price the Everton hierarchy would be looking for.

A player that could potentially generate these funds at the moment would be Marouane Fellaini, who would certainly augment most sides.The Belgian is robust in the tackle, possesses surprisingly quick, skillful feet for his size and carries an acute passing game. At 6 ft 5 (more when you include the afro) the midfielder's height is an extra bonus, not always common for those anchoring the midfield. 

With two years left on his contract, Everton need to sit up and pay attention to his recent quotes about his future. It seems, unless there is a rapid transformation at Everton, Fellaini has little desire to renew his contract, despite renewal talks that have been ongoing for quite some time now. Therefore, his potential value is beginning to diminish, something Everton cannot settle for as they did with Steven Pienaar. 

Everton paid a club record £15 million for the lofty Belgian in 2008. If they want to secure a handy profit on their investment, with this current inflated market, David Moyes should seriously consider offloading the man he once dubbed the best midfielder in the Premier League. 

Although Everton generally cut a stubborn stance in transfer dealings, keen to never promote themselves as a club that sells, were a sizeable bid to come in this summer, it would be foolish to not analyse it thoroughly. Although he has played a pivotal role during his time at Everton, were he to depart, he would not leave behind a chasm as vast as someone like Leighton Baines would.

Everton's strongest position is central midfield where they have no shortage of options. Fellaini has all too often been injured during his time at Everton, and Phil Neville, John Heitinga and Jack Rodwell have all played in his place. Rodwell seems most suitable for the role Fellaini occupies, sitting in front of the back four, and is primed for more match time. He could well blossom given time to adjust in this position. Additionally, Everton have a couple of decent central midfield propositions in the youth team in John Lundstam and Ross Barkley who could both turn into real stars.

Although Evertonians would be losing a cult hero, were the afro-clad Fellaini to be ushered out the door, it makes sense that this ploy is at least considered, given the alarming shortage of means at Everton. Were the popular midfielder to vacate Goodison Park this summer, here are five potential suitors.

Real Madrid

Well, Fellaini did say he wanted Champions League football(!) On paper this may appear a little above his station at this primitive stage of his career. Fellaini would probably spend more of the time on the bench were he to relocate to the Bernabeu, but this rumour has consistently followed Fellaini for a couple of years now. There have also been some strong links emanating from Belgium recently.

As much as Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso were the predominant starters last season under Jose Mourinho, they were not always trusted against Barcelona, where Pepe was occasionally deployed as an emergency holding midfielder. A sign perhaps that Mourinho would like a specialist in this position?

With Lassana Diarra, Fellaini would have direct competition for this role, as well as plenty of other world class midfielders to try and outperform. However, Real Madrid is a destination where every position is fiercely coveted, and numbers have never prevented them from trying to buy a player they like.

Arsenal

Arsenal's midfield is under the microscope this summer. Cesc Fabregas and Sami Nasri are at the centre of elongated transfer sagas, whilst Denilson is on the verge of leaving. Tomas Rosicky, with one year left on his contract, is another who seems to have an uncertain future. 

It may well be that Arsene Wenger will try and bolster his numbers in midfield anyway, and if either of Nasri or Fabregas depart, he should have no shortage of means to chase his targets with. Arsenal should begin next season with a couple of new faces in their midfield and Fellaini could prove a useful addition at the Emirates. With an Arsenal player typically oozing skill, but generally slight in build, the Belgian would offer something contrasting to what Arsene Wenger already has.

Alex Song currently performs admirably in the holding role, although his flexibility could allow the two players to coexist, if not compete against each other. Were Fellaini to patrol Arsene Wenger's midfield he would bring proven Premier League pedigree and add much needed size and strength to Arsenal's engine room.

Bayern Munich

With Mark van Bommel and Hamit Altintop no longer plying their trade at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich are going through a transitional phase in central midfield. Mainstay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, is yet to strike up the right chemistry with a new central midfield partner, and the German giants could well be in the market for a midfielder that matches Fellaini's description. 

Ideally the Germans would want a defensive minded player that would allow Schweinsteiger to venture forward more often. Luiz Gustavo, a converted left-back, and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, are currently vying for the holding role, but neither have made the position their own as of yet.

Fellaini would strengthen the Germans, and could provide a perfect foil for Schweinsteiger's attacking ambitions, were they to have the chance of playing together. 

AC Milan

AC Milan seem to have had the same midfield for years. With Andrea Pirlo recently departing, stalwarts Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini all still roam the Rossoneri's midfield at a combined age of over 100.

Whilst all have had glittering careers at the very pinnacle of the game and are very much regarded as part of the furniture at the San Siro, all of them are now surely approaching the final phases of their time in Milan. The Italians could certainly do with some fresh blood and begin to progress forward with a new generation in midfield.

Whilst the squad is always highly populated and competitive at Milan, the addition of Fellaini, still only 23, would give the side an injection of this much needed youth without detracting any quality. Fellaini would become the perfect understudy to any of Milan's ageing trio, who would all provide the Belgian with a perfect role model. In time, with such prestigious guidance, Fellaini could become a dominant force in Serie A, a league where defensive players tend to shine.

Chelsea

With Michael Essien felled a week ago, Chelsea are suddenly looking a bit depleted in the holding midfield role. Rumour has it that they are now seeking a defensive midfielder, so could Fellaini be their man?

Chelsea still have options in John Obi Mikel and young Josh McEachran, but Fellaini would provide the ability to break up attacks and crucially launch them at a faster pace. Chelsea, in recent times, have found it harder to break down their opposition when is possession. The changeover of the ball is the best time to catch your opponent off guard, out of position, and Fellaini's ability to launch an attack could be handy for Chelsea next season.

Chlesea have apparently been considering a bid for Scott Parker, who would also fill this void well, and Parker may well be the first choice at a cheaper price. It would be a surprise if the board at Chelsea did not back new manager Andre Villas-Boas and seek a replacement for the talismanic Essien, whether or not Fellaini is their man.

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