Baines aware of Man United talk
Leighton Baines is aware of the speculation linking him with Manchester United - but he does wish Everton could start keeping their best players.
Baines failed to make an appearance during England's Euro 2012 campaign, which is a shame because he would have been a handy presence during the penalty shoot-out against Italy last Sunday that ultimately cost Roy Hodgson's men their place in the competition.
He then returned home to face stories suggesting Sir Alex Ferguson is about to make a move.
The 27-year-old insists he knows little of United's interest.
However, after spending five years at Goodison Park, it has become a recurring theme for Baines to witness manager David Moyes having to sell his best players.
"Obviously over the years the manager has lost players that I am sure he would have liked to have kept hold of," said Baines.
"Whether the club has needed the money or whether it's because they have received what they consider is a considerable bid for a player they have always done good business.
"The manager has done well in bringing people in at a certain amount and when they have moved on he has tended to double his money or more.
"The club have always been quite savvy in that sense.
"It has never really hindered us and it's never seen us getting any worse.
"But maybe it would be nice to see us hang on to those players and add a couple."
Baines now finds himself being spoken about as of interest to a potential suitor.
Recent history suggests United would not sign a player of such experience as cover for Patrice Evra, so for a deal to go through, it would surely either require a fundamental change of role for the Frenchman, or his departure from Old Trafford altogether.
"I've been aware of what's been said in the press but I don't know much beyond that," said Baines, who still has three years left on his present deal.
"It doesn't do any harm (to be linked) but it doesn't do any good either.
"It's just one of those things that tends to swing around this time of year. People put two and two together sometimes they get four and sometimes they get three or five.
"It gets other people more excited than those involved."
In the meantime, Baines will take a short break and return to Everton eager to exert further pressure on Ashley Cole for his England place.
There was no sign of this tournament of Cole's ability diminishing.
And, just two caps short of his century, it appears certain the 31-year-old will extent his England career into the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Baines is not worried though. With eight caps to his name, he is happy to keep providing the competition.
"Ashley is different class," said Baines.
"There are not many better than him and hopefully he can keep on playing as well as he has been because that can only be good for England.
"I will keep trying to push him and doing what I can do.
"Hopefully if I get a chance I can do well enough to get in there."
