Tom Ince and Aiden McGeady are targets for Roberto Martinez, but the Everton boss might wait until the summer to land the duo.
Since succeeding David Moyes at Goodison Park in the summer, Martinez has increased his reputation as one of the best young coaches in the game. As well as pushing up the Premier League table in a bid to finish in the top-four, the Toffees are doing this will playing an entertaining style of football which is being lapped up by the fans.
The former Wigan Athletic boss is thought to have cash available to further improve his squad this month, but he is in no rush to do so. Indeed, whilst he has identified Ince and McGeady as good additions to his existing pool of players, the 40-year-old will look to land them on the cheap when the curtain is drawn on the current campaign.
By that time Republic of Ireland international McGeady will be a free agent, as his contract at Spartak Moscow will have expired. Martinez is a long-term admirer of the 27-year-old, who he tried to sign whilst he was still in charge of the Latics. And it now appears as if he is finally close to getting the former Celtic ace to pen a pre-contract deal.
“We are very close to a deal with Aiden for the summer, that is true,” Martinez is quoted in The Mirror. “You know I like him as a player. But as things stand now I don’t think we will be able to anything for January because there are too many difficulties. Many things can happen in the window, but right now it would be difficult.”
A deal for Ince is likely to be a little more complex. The England Under-21 international, who began his career on Merseyside with Liverpool, is one of the most sought after players in the country outside of the top-flight, and he too will be out of contract in the summer. However, Blackpool may be willing to cash in now, rather than lose him for a compensation fee.
A number of clubs have already been linked with the 20-year-old, most recently Swansea City who were even reported to be in talks with the player earlier this week. Whilst this has since been played down the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are circling, but Martinez insists this will not force him into making an early move.
“I like Tom,” he added. “As a young, English talent he’s a phenomenal footballer. But it would be unfair of me to talk about him because he’s got a very important second half of the season with Blackpool and it would be unfair to bring speculation to him. A young, English player of that calibre would interest a lot of teams, but it’s not for me to mention.”
