Season › 2012-13 › News Moyes keen to keep Heitinga Lyndon Lloyd , 28 January, 11comments | Jump to most recent David Moyes has backed up his intention not to sell any of his players before the transfer deadline by insisting that he can't afford to let John Heitinga go because of a lack of central defensive options. Due to his comparatively high wages and the fact that he has lost his first-choice status in Everton's central defence, Heitinga has been singled out as the Blues' most sale-able asset this month. Should the Dutchman leave, however, he would need to be replaced before the transfer window closes given the fact that reserve defender Shane Duffy is likely too short of first-team experience to be first-choice back-up to Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin. And Heitinga showed his versatility, a precious commodity in a small squad, by slamming home the winning goal at Bolton in the FA Cup. Moyes indicated over the weekend that the state of the transfer market this month is not making him optimistic that he will be able to strengthen his small squad in any significant way — though he wryly suggested not to bet against him! — and that will no doubt play into his reluctance to let Heitinga go. "I cannot let Heitinga go because we are too short in central defence,” Moyes said. “We wouldn't do that unless it was something outrageous.” The 29 year-old defender's agent intimated last month that his client was not happy playing second fiddle at Everton and that he would be open to the right move if it materialised. Reported links with Turkey's top sides as well as his old club Ajax have so far not had any substance, though, and it looks as though Heitinga will remain at Goodison until the summer at least. The deadline for transfers is this coming Thursday night and although there are whispers on Merseyside that a pair of deals is in the works, there is nothing concrete to point to in support of the speculation. Reader Comments (11) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Stephen Jacobsen 1 Posted 28/01/2013 at 06:44:32 Is there any reason why it seems Everton's January transfer window starts on 31st January, usually around 6-7pm, whereas for most other teams, it starts on 1st January? A little frustrating to say the least. I think Saturday's performance was yet another sign that the squad could do with a couple of new spaces, if anything just to freshen things up. I think that additional striker must be top of the shopping list. Kieran Fitzgerald 2 Posted 28/01/2013 at 08:42:04 If Moyes genuinely does not have a list of players lined up to bring in by Thursday, then it doesn't make any sense to sell any player in this window. Having the money is great but if we can't use it properly until the summer, when we know which we want and can actually get, then it is useless to us. It also means that we are another player down between now and the end of the season. James Byrne 3 Posted 28/01/2013 at 10:14:53 I agree that Moyes is in a predicament but his best option is to keep Heitinga if no club has come in for him – particularly for the right price.The goal he scored against Oldham doesn't vindicate Johnny of some poor defending this season, actually resulting in conceding goals. If he stays he needs to get his head out of his arse rapido and man up FFS! Trevor Lynes 4 Posted 28/01/2013 at 11:36:33 Strange decision regarding Duffy, sounds like a catch situation. If the lad does not play even when on the bench how is he to get experience in the first eleven?Another strange one is Duffy scores much more frequently than any of the Everton centre backs which leads me to think he is pretty good in the air which is a prime objective of any good centre back.I for one am not happy seeing Heitinga in defence. He is slow, lacks height and gives away dangerous freekicks. Surely Duffy must be better than him, otherwise he should change his job!! Steavey Buckley 5 Posted 28/01/2013 at 11:45:32 The Duffy situtation along with Gueye and Villios is that they are not playing any real football with any real football club. That a loan signing would bring. The academy is a step backwards, not a step forward for budding young players who have an aspiration for first team football. Phil Sammon 6 Posted 28/01/2013 at 12:40:43 If Heitinga stays then Duffy has to get out on loan. Steve Brown 7 Posted 28/01/2013 at 14:07:43 Sign a striker on loan, sew back Kevin's hammies together with needle and thread and we're good to go. Robin Cannon 8 Posted 28/01/2013 at 14:44:12 @Trevor (474) - I tend to agree.I can understand not wanting Duffy to be the only back-up, because of the risk of having a long term injury to Jags/Distin. But the problem then becomes that having an experienced backup in Heitinga blocks any opportunity for Duffy to see any kind of playing time at all. Little bit of a catch-22. I'd definitely agree that if Heitinga stays then we should be looking for a decent loan opportunity for Duffy. Mike Gaynes 9 Posted 28/01/2013 at 18:17:01 I like Duffy too, but I haven't seen nearly enough of him to say he's better than Heitinga, or even as good. Moyes has seen plenty of Duffy in practice and the reserves, and if he thinks the kid isn't ready, then so be it. I can see the argument for loaning Duffy... but unless the deal would allow for an immediate recall in case of injury, I'd vote against it. Three deep at center back isn't enough. Or am I the only one who remembers Tony Hibbert's heroic turns in the middle in 2011? Jamie Sweet 10 Posted 28/01/2013 at 20:14:06 Hasn't Heitinga only got 18 months left on his contract? If so, I would suggest this will probably be our last chance to get decent money for him. Can't see any chance of him signing a contract extension.Sell sell sell. Denis Richardson 11 Posted 29/01/2013 at 10:55:02 None of us know for sure what is going on in the background but at times I just cannot understand our transfer policy. We continually hear that we're skint and yet we seem happy keeping a player like Heitinga just for back up. He supposedly earns over £50k a week and presumably is worth at least £4-5m given he's still relatively young and is in the Dutch squad. Our financial situation does not surely allow us the luxury of having someone on £50k a week simply as a backup.He was also our Player of the Season last year and has been nothing but a bench warmer this season, so far. If he's not in the first team, would it not make sense to ship him out and bring a cheaper CB in as cover? Or a couple of younger hungrier faces? Also, as mentioned above, the Duffy situation doesn't seem right. He looked good in the 4-5 games he played in a row last season and then... nothing. Moyes does not seem keen on giving any of the youngsters time on the pitch, so it begs the question how are they supposed to gain experience sitting on the bench? He had a great chance to give some of them a run out against Cheltenham at 4 - 0 up and yet substituted the old pros on instead – at 4 - 0 up!I just don't understand... we only play with a group of 13-14 players, regardless of opposition, and then are surprised that they get tired and/or injured and that our youngsters don't develop... Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb