Champions League chance for Everton ace
After spending seven seasons at Goodison Park during which Everton have on numerous occasions come agonisingly close to securing Champions League football, Mikel Arteta could be offered an opportunity to experience it for real again by returning to Spain in the summer.
The Daily Mirror claim that the former Rangers and Real Sociedad midfielder, a two-time Everton player of the season that has struggled for top form at times in this campaign, has attracted the attention of Valencia, who are rumoured to have approached his agent Inaki Ibanez.
The Barcelona trainee hasn't expressed discontent with life on Merseyside but, at the age of 29, may be concerned about his prolonged absence for the continent's top competition and worried that if he doesn't address the situation soon, his chance to compete with Europe's finest will pass him by.
Valencia reached the round-of-16 in this year's instalment and look set to qualify automatically once more given that they currently sit third in La Liga, three points clear of fourth-placed Villarreal and a massive 12 ahead of Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.
An intriguing twist to the story is that if it does transpire that there is substance to the speculation, the Basque playmaker could link up with ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, as it has been suggested that the two-time Spanish champions is on his way back to the stage of his greatest domestic success.
David Moyes is expected to fight hard to try to keep one of his most valuable squad members away from Valencia, who are also believed to be targeting Albert Riera, and perhaps Arteta would be persuaded to stay if Tim Howard's stated aim of finishing above Liverpool is achieved.
Can the Toffees outperform their neighbours? They are [3.5] on Betfair...
Published: 7 Apr 2011
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