EVERTON AND LIVERPOOL IN MERSEY BATTLE FOR JACK BUTLAND
England's Jack Butland is a wanted man
Liverpool and Everton have emerged as the leading contenders for his signature in the new year.
6th December 2012
By Adrian Kajumba, Daily Star
EVERTON are set for a January battle with *Liverpool for young England keeper Jack Butland.
Toffees boss David Moyes wants competition for current No.1 Tim Howard and has identified *Birmingham stopper Butland, 19, as the man.
Blues manager Lee Clark is desperate to hold on to Butland but the club may be forced to sell their prized asset to ease their cash woes.
Butland is one of England’s brightest prospects.
He has starred for the Under-21s and Team GB at the Olympics and made his senior England debut in the friendly against Italy last August.
He has also been linked with Manchester rivals United and City, Arsenal and Southampton, who bid £6m for him last summer.
But Liverpool and Everton have emerged as the leading contenders for his signature in the new year.
Starsport understands the Reds are currently in pole position as Everton will need to sell before they can buy.
Kop boss Brendan Rodgers has declared his faith in current keeper Pepe Reina and sources say Butland would be for the long term.