IN-DEPTH NEWS
McFadden dilemma over improved offer
James McFadden: Should I stay or should I go?
The 24 year-old has 18 months left to run on his current deal but expressed doubts over the weekend that he was ready to sit down and discuss a new deal with the Blues while he wasn't being regularly selected for the first team.
McFadden's last start was on 20th December against AZ Alkmaar, one of a number of supposed "second-string" players drafted in as manager David Moyes rested some key personnel amid a hectic schedule of cup and Premier League fixtures. His last League appearance was back on 8th December when he came on for the last eight minutes with the game against Fulham already in the bag at 3-0.
Everton have already knocked back an approach made by Celtic on 22nd December to take the striker on loan for the remainder of the season and have also given a hands-off warning to Marseilles.
Wyness said then that, "Celtic made a request ... and it was immediately rejected out of hand. We are in the Carling Cup semi-finals, the last 32 of the Uefa Cup and still have the FA Cup to come.... we need all our top players around."
The player confirmed that he was aware of the club's interest in offering him a new contract but explained, "I have not gone down that road yet because I want to try to get into the team before I start talking about contracts."
More recently, his agent, Willie McKay, was quoted as saying, "James is under contract at Everton and he is only thinking of Everton," but the lack of first-team opportunities and his high stock in Scotland following his exploits during their ultimately unsuccessful Euro 2008 bid could tempt McFadden to take the chance to return to the Scottish Premier League from where was signed three years ago when Moyes paid Motherwell £1.25m for his services.
Naturally, speculation over his future continues unabated, with the player being linked with various moves including a £4m switch to Birmingham City under ex-Scotland boss Alex McLeish, a permanent switch to Celtic or a swap deal involving Rangers fullback Alan Hutton.