Transfer news: Everton could offer Jack Rodwell a route out of Manchester City as they also eye permanent deal for Gareth Barry

A loan-deal for Rodwell fell-through on the final day of the January transfer window but Roberto Martinez is believed to be keen on adding both Rodwell and Barry on a permanent basis

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 11 March 2014 17:03 GMT
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Gareth Barry and Jack Rodwell could both be on their way to Everton from Manchester City in permanent deals in the summer
Gareth Barry and Jack Rodwell could both be on their way to Everton from Manchester City in permanent deals in the summer

Jack Rodwell could be offered a Premier League lifeline with a dramatic return to his former club Everton, having experienced a frustrating time since moving to the Etihad in 2012.

Toffees manager Roberto Martinez has structured a deal to take Rodwell on loan on transfer deadline day in January, but the move collapsed after City failed to land Porto midfielder Fernando, along with his colleague Erik Mangala.

Everton already have Gareth Barry on a season-long loan from the Premier League title contenders, and it is believed that the Merseyside club hope to make Barry a permanent fixture in the squad in order to land Rodwell. Current Premier League rules forbid a club from taking two players on loan from the same team at the same time, but transfers for both midfielders could materialise in the summer.

Rodwell joined City when Roberto Mancini was at the helm, but suffered a string of injuries due to a problematic hamstring and the arrival of current manager Manuel Pellegrini has seen him plummet further down the pecking order.

With Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, David Silva, Javi Garcia and even defender Martin Demichelis in front of Rodwell in Pellegrini’s plans, the 22-year-old looks set to bring to an end his stay with the club, while Barry is out of contract in the summer and is believed to have begun talks over a £45,000-a-week contract at Goodison Park.

Barry would also likely receive a generous signing-on fee due to his free agent status, and with Everton keen to develop on their impressive first season under Martinez, bringing back Rodwell would further add youth to a young squad that contains such budding stars such as Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman, while Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu could remain for a second season on loan should the Catalan’s agree to a deal.

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