Manchester United manager David Moyes says former club Everton will harm the careers of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini if they prevent the pair from following him to Old Trafford.
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Moyes, who left Everton at the end of last season, had a £28 million ($44 million, 33 million euros) joint-bid for the duo rejected earlier this week, which the Merseyside club branded "derisory and insulting".
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Moyes's successor at Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez, questioned the timing of the offer, but Moyes says he remains on good terms with the club and their chairman, Bill Kenwright.
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"There's a mixed market at the moment. Nobody's quite sure where the price is just now," Moyes said.
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"We've had offers for players which we think are quite small. I can see where other clubs might be thinking there's not enough value for their players as well.
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"I definitely (have sympathy for Martinez). But I also know if I had been Everton manager and Sir Alex (Ferguson) had come asking for Baines and Fellaini, I'd have found it very difficult to keep them.
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"I always thought the right thing to do was the right thing for players.
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"Roberto is new in his job and I'm sure he'll get to understand how Everton work. I respect Everton greatly and speak with Bill Kenwright most weeks.
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"Of course taking their players is going to affect them, but there is not any disrespect whatsoever because we didn't make the offer public."
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Moyes will take charge of his first competitive home game as United manager on Monday when Jose Mourinho's Chelsea visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.
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United striker Wayne Rooney has reportedly become unsettled after Chelsea had two bids for him rejected, but Moyes says he could hand the 27-year- old a start after he came on and created two goals in last weekend's 4-1 win at Swansea City.
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"Wayne has recovered and has a good chance of starting," Moyes said.
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Martinez took the opportunity to respond to Moyes after Everton's 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion later on Saturday and the Spaniard made it clear he was still unhappy with his predecessor's conduct.
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Alluding to Moyes's battle to keep Rooney out of Chelsea's clutches and his struggle to persuade players to join United, Martinez said: "I think my comment is quite clear. If managers start talking about players who are registered at other clubs, that is the end of the whole thing.
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"I think everyone should look after their own things internally.
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"I am sure they have got many issues in the same manner and I could easily come out and give my opinions about these players but I will be more respectful than that.