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28 March 2024

Hungry Fellaini puts Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea on alert

Marouane Fellaini (left) and Seamus Coleman of Everton tackle Danny Rose of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park on November 10, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Staff with Agencies

Marouane Fellaini is not only hungry for goals but has a burning ambition to win trophies.

The Everton star may not realise this dream although the Toffees have had a superb start to the season.

Fellaini has been outstanding this season and scored one goal and created the other in the 2-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, taking his tally of goals for the season to six in the Premier League.

But David Moyes will find it difficult to prevent the Belgium international, 24, from moving on during the January transfer window.

Fellaini told Footbal Focus: "When I came here, I played an FA Cup final against Chelsea, I lost. Last year I played (a) semi-final (and) lost, and so I hope to win something this year.

"But also I want to play (in the) Champions League, if it's possible with Everton. But if not, with another team. But I want to play (in the) Champions League."

He is virtually inviting offers from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United.

After seeing his Manchester United side beaten 1-0 at Goodison Park in the opening round of league fixtures, Alex Ferguson said Fellaini was "a big, tall, gangly lad who Everton just lumped the ball to".

But Moyes says it would be wrong to suggest that Fellaini's impressive Premier League performances are solely down to his power.

As well as showing great technique to drive in from the edge of the area at Goodison Park, Fellaini laid on Nikica Jelavic's equaliser with a clever back-heel on Saturday.

And Moyes thinks Fellaini has shown that there is much more to his game than brute force alone.

"It might look it, but I don't think he's got brutality," said Moyes.

"He's got great chest control, soft feet, and when we needed him to drop back in with 15 minutes to go, he can play deeper as well.

"He's a really important player for us and he's proving that this season.

"I don't know if he got a bit lucky with it going through John O'Shea's legs (for Everton's second goal), but Jelavic needed one put on a plate for him at the moment.

"He finished it well, but it was as close to being put on a plate as possible from Fellaini's flick."

Moyes is adding more value to a player who is improved by leaps and bounds since his arrival at Everton in 2008 and is now dreaming of Champions League football.