Season 2002-03
David Weir appears to be ready to end the speculation surrounding his future and sign an extension to his Everton contract this week. The Scottish international defender had been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United this summer but the Official Site report that the 32 year-old will sign on for another two seasons.
It marks the end of a depressing trend of the club's best performers leaving Goodison Park every close season. The likes of Nick Barmby and Michael Ball are recent examples of players voted as Everton's Player of the Season only to leave immediately afterward.
Weir was perhaps Walter Smith's most successful signing seeing as he cost Everton just £200,000 in 1999. After struggling initially to find his feet in an unfamiliar role at right back, Weir cemented himself into the starting line-up in central defence and has at various times been team captain. A regular for Scotland, he has been a defensive rock for Everton over the past two seasons and has weighed in with a few goals as well, most notably his volleyed rocket at Tottenham last season.
Manager David Moyes told the Official Site: "It is good news because his performances last season and prior to that have been very good. He is the sort of person you want around the place, he is an excellent ambassador for the club as well as being a very good player."
The news of Weir's decision comes on the heels of a "hands-off" warning by Moyes to Aston Villa who are reportedly sniffing around the Blues' tenacious midfielder, Thomas Gravesen. After a series of impressive performances in the World Cup for Denmark, Villa are believed to be offering £5m for Gravesen, but Everton are apparently not interested in selling.
Gravesen, along with the Blues' other World Cup stars, will rejoin the squad for pre-season training in two weeks time. They were given a longer break than the rest of the squad who began their preparation for the new season this morning.
by Lyndon Lloyd