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Clarets want two Toffeemen

Last updated : 14 August 2002 By Tony Scholes

Lee Carsley in action against Dunfermline in a recent pre-season friendly
Everton have a big squad and The Haunted One David Moyes has let it be known that is keen to let some of his players go out in loan moves and our sources tell us that Stan is particularly keen to take two of them.

The first of the two is defender Lee Carsley who during his career has been transferred for over £7 million in three transfer deals. The 28 year-old started his career with Derby County but in March 1999 moved up to the north west and signed for our neighbours from down the M65 in a £3.4 million deal.

In December of the following year with his club relegated he moved back into the Premiership with Coventry City with his value now £2 million. Again he played in a team relegated from the Premiership but during last season he again took the step back up when Walter Smith paid £1.9 million for him to take him to Everton.

However there has since been a change of manager at Goodison and he played just four games for Moyes as Everton easily escaped relegation. He has played 240 league games and also represented the Republic of Ireland on 20 occasions. He was a member of their World Cup squad and made one appearance as a substitute in their 3-0 win against Saudi Arabia.

Two years ago the Clarets looked set to sign Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard after our promotion from the 2nd division. At the time the only experienced goalkeeper at the club was Paul Crichton. The deal didn’t go through and in no time Gerrard found himself back as first choice when Thomas Myhre picked up an injury. A succession of top performances soon ended our hopes of signing him.

Paul Gerrard in the same game
Not long after Nik Michopoulos arrived and that was the end of that. However things have changed, Burnley are very much on the lookout for another keeper, again we are down to just one in Nik, and Gerrard is not only out of the side at the moment but now finds himself third choice behind new signing Richard Wright and Steve Simonsen.

Gerrard cost Everton £1 million when he joined them just six years ago but has played just 87 league games for them in that time. He had previously had three seasons as a regular with Oldham. He has also played for Oxford in a short loan spell during the 1998/99 season. Now aged 29 he has said he is looking to play some regular first team football.

Carsley and Gerrard are, we believe, the two players Stan would like to bring in on loan deals and given the club’s current financial situation they would probably be short term deals with Everton still paying some of the wages.

Mind you Preston usually want the players we go so it remains to be seen whether the Haunted One will tip off his former club.

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