Everton accept Chelsea bid for Steven Pienaar

Posted on January 18, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Everton manager David Moyes confirmed on Sunday the club has accepted an offer from Chelsea for unsettled South African international forward Steven Pienaar.

Speaking after Everton’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, Moyes said the club had granted permission for Pienaar’s representatives to enter into talks with Chelsea but had rebuffed a bid from Tottenham.

“We have accepted an offer from Chelsea. Steven has not agreed terms with Chelsea,” Moyes said. “We’ve given his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea but they’ve not got permission to talk to Tottenham because they’ve not offered the same money.”

The likely departure of Pienaar is a blow to Everton, but with the player out of contract at the end of the season the Toffees had little choice but to cash in during the January window.

British press reported on Saturday that Pienaar was holding out for a move to Tottenham, with Spurs his preferred destination.

Redknapp fears Chelsea will win Pienaar race

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted Chelsea’s interest in Pienaar is likely to end his club’s bid to sign the South African.

Redknapp has been keen to bring Pienaar to White Hart Lane during the January transfer window and recently made a two-million-pound (3.1-million-dollar) offer for the 28-year-old.

The deal looked on the cards until Moyes’ confirmation that Chelsea’s three-million-pound bid has been accepted while Tottenham’s lesser bid had been turned down.

Redknapp admitted he is surprised Chelsea have entered the bidding, especially since Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti publicly denied he had any interest in signing the former Borussia Dortmund player, but he believes they will get their man.

“I don’t know if we would be prepared to match that offer to be honest with you. I doubt it very much,” Redknapp said after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United.

“The chairman made an offer to take him but Chelsea have come in with three million pounds and if Everton are prepared to sell him they would probably get him.

“It’s all very strange to me how they have suddenly offered three million pounds for him.

“The manager of Chelsea, he’s a lovely guy and honest as the day is long, comes on televisison and denies they made an offer for Pienaar. I don’t know who has made the offer.

“I’ve got my own ideas about the whole situation but I couldn’t say. I think I do know what’s happening but if I said I would be in big trouble.”