[lfc-news] Baros okays Evrton switch - PA

PA Sport, 2 Aug 2005
BAROS OKAYS EVERTON SWITCH

Liverpool striker Milan Baros is believed to have opened the way for a
move to Everton by making it known he has no reservations about a
cross-city transfer.

Everton have taken preliminary steps toward a potential £6million move
for the Czech Republic international who has been told he can leave
Liverpool after three and a half years in which he has scored 27 goals
in 106 appearances.

But the key to any such highly-charged transfer is whether the player
concerned is aware of the potential problems and is happy to face them.

Such moves can produce anger from one side of the Mersey divide and
reservations from the other.

But it is believed that, after discussions with his advisors, Baros has
given the green light for negotiations to continue.

No player has joined Everton from Liverpool since Gary Ablett made the
short trip across Stanley Park in 1992.

But, when Nicky Barmby moved in the opposite direction to Liverpool from
Everton for £6million in 2000, he was subjected to a ferocious hate
campaign, although Portuguese defender Abel Xavier had no such problems
when he moved from Goodison Park to Liverpool for £800,000 in January 2002.

Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has confirmed on Tuesday that "we
are looking at a number of different striking options and we are
currently reviewing them all. Baros is one of the names on the list".

But Wyness insisted that Everton had not made a formal bid for the
23-year-old, who was the top scorer in last year's Euro 2004 finals.

The mood in the Goodison Park camp, said one source was "very
optimistic" that something can be sorted out, maybe even in time for
Baros to pass a medical and be registered with UEFA before the end of
the Thursday deadline to be allowed to play in next week's Champions
League qualifier at home to Villarreal.

Everton will not go to the £7million asking price but Liverpool would
probably accept £6million for a player who is now fourth in the
strikers' pecking order behind Fernando Morientes, Djibril Cisse and
Peter Crouch.

There has been interest in Baros from Aston Villa, West Ham and Monaco
but no offers that have interested Liverpool while, earlier this week,
German side Schalke pulled out of the bidding.

They were told in no uncertain terms by Liverpool that, after a week of
negotiations, there was no chance of a season-long loan.

And, with earlier target Andy Johnson committing himself to Crystal
Palace with a new five-year contract on Tuesday, Everton's options have
diminished.

They need to bolster their squad quickly after an unsatisfactory
pre-season that has seen them struggle to score goals.

Liverpool could do with the cash to aid their moves for a defender -
probably Deportivo's Jorge Andrade - and a winger, with boss Rafael
Benitez still refusing to rule out Luis Figo.

Liverpool are likely to farm out on loan two French youngsters shortly

Defender Carl Medjani is on his way to Metz for a season while Anthony
Le Tallec is a target for Sunderland.

Benitez wants both to have regular football, in particular, Le Tallec,
whom he believes would benefit from a full campaign in the Premiership.

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