EXCLUSIVE - Baines No Everton Fan!

Last updated : 06 August 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Greg "the Everton fan" e-mailed to give us the low down on Baines's "Liverpool past".

Google in "Leighton Baines Four Four Two" and you come up with this ... from the horse's mouth:

LEIGHTON BAINES

Wigan Athletic left-back, born in Liverpool 11 December 1984

Nickname Plain old Bainsey. We've all got boring nicknames, except The Duke [Nathan Ellington].

As a boy I supported... Liverpool. As a local lad I used to watch from The Kop when Robbie Fowler was making his name. I started out at Liverpool's Centre of Excellence and although it was disappointing when nothing came of it, I was lucky that both Wigan and Wolves wanted to sign me.

The Toffees are set to beat Newcastle United for the services of the England Under-21 international left-back after he snubbed an opportunity to join newly-promoted Sunderland last week.

And with reports of a £6million bid being accepted by Wigan, Irvine is hoping they can persuade the "self-confessed Toffees fan" to snub a move to St James' Park and opt for Goodison Park.

Irvine: "We are at least part of the way down the road. But with the demands made by everyone these days, I'll only believe it's going to happen when it actually does happen.

"We have been talking to Leighton and hopefully sorting things out with him.

"When you look at the prices that are going around these days, then £6m is not a great deal of money.

"Leighton has got real potential to play for his country. He's a good footballer, a nice passer of the ball, he has loads of energy and he is quick."