Everton Transfer News: Club Smart to Reject Offers for Top Stars

Everton have rejected a joint £28 million bid for two of their top stars, while also sending a message to former manager David Moyes, who is currently with Manchester United. 

Moyes was attempting to buy Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines from Everton, but the offers did nothing but infuriate Everton officials.

The club's official Twitter account released a statement on the matter:

Everton's rejection makes sense from a financial standpoint. Everton bought Fellaini for a club-record £15 million in the first place, which later increased to £17.5 million with add-ons. His £23.5 million buyout clause expired at the end of July.

Everton giving up Fellaini for about the same price they bought him does not make any sense—especially considering that he has improved as a player over the years.

Perhaps most insulting were the actions of Moyes.

It was Moyes just four years ago, acting as manager for Everton, who was outraged with Manchester City's bids for Joleon Lescott, as documented by David Anderson of the Daily Mirror:

"

You just hope people will do things correctly, but that hasn't happened here... They should look at how Real Madrid tied up Cristiano Ronaldo by paying what United considered the right price and doing it in time for United to spend the money, if they wanted.

"

Well here we are and Moyes is doing the same thing to his former club. 

Not only did Moyes ignore the market value of Fellaini, he thought it wise after failing on a £12 million bid for Baines in June to simply offer the same price again—but in a double bid with Fellaini included. 

Furthermore, it was reported back in May that Moyes was prepping this very joint bid for Baines and Fellaini at the sum of £40 million. Now the recently rejected offer does not look so hot, does it?

Moyes is beginning to cultivate a reputation as a cheap manager after thinking that he could make low-ball offers for former players to lesser clubs. 

Meanwhile, Everton have to find a way to remain competitive, and keeping Fellaini and Baines is one way to do so. The duo took part in Everton's opener against Norwich on Saturday, in which both teams played at a high level before ending the match in a 2-2 draw. 

Another way to keep play on the pitch at a high level is to fetch a nice price for both Fellaini and Baines and then flip the money into improving the roster as a whole. 

Doing so requires a legitimate offer first, which is not something Moyes and United seem prepared to do. 

Everton would likely come to the negotiating table and discuss selling two of their biggest stars with United if Moyes and his staff were serious about making a move during the transfer window. 

Instead, Everton are insulted—as they should be. For now Everton will hold on to Baines and Fellaini, which suits the club just fine. Smart management is the only management that succeeds, and right now, Moyes and Manchester United could learn a thing or two from Everton. 

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling