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Phil Jagielka: Everton Must Keep Hold Of Key Players
The England international defender believes the Toffees need to fend off any advances for their playing staff if they are to challenge for a top four place in the Premier League.
Jun 27, 2009 7:49:57 AM
Phil Jagielka is urging Everton to reject any approaches they may receive, during the close-season, for key members of their first-team squad.
It has been rumoured that Manchester City are hoping to tempt the Toffees into parting with Joleon Lescott by offering between £15-20 million in exchange.
However, Jagielka believes that the Merseyside-based outfit must hold on to players of Lescott's quality, if they are to improve on their fifth placed finish in the Premier League last season.
Indeed, the defender feels that Everton must add to what is already at manager David Moyes' disposal, should they wish to challenge for a Champions League qualification spot.
"Joleon's been fantastic. It was nice to see him play for England again, so that tells you enough. He's a massive part of our team. We don't want him to go," Jagielka told Sky Sports.
"I'm sure the club don't want him to go. But, unfortunately, the way football is at the moment, if someone is going to splash ridiculous money at you, we'll see how it goes.
"It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of our players were subject of bids. But, hopefully, financially we're stable enough to reject all them and build on the squad we've got, rather than take it apart.
"I think we've not got the biggest of squads. I think everyone knows that. We can't afford to be letting our main players go," he added.
"We've got to bring a few more players in. We're not going to break into the top four while letting our best players go."
Meanwhile, the 5ft 11in defender revealed that he is recovering well, following surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and says he will have more of an idea when he might return to action when he returns to see a specialist in a few weeks.
"Everything's fine. Everything's on schedule," Jagielka remarked.
"It's a long process. It's starting to get to me a little bit, but I've got to keep smiling.
"I'm going to see the specialist properly in about in four more weeks and he'll give me more of an idea of how well or how not well it's doing."
Ricky Brooks, Goal.com
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