Sylvain Distin says he is certain his Everton defensive partner Phil Jagielka will not move away from Goodison Park to Arsenal this summer.
GettyImagesEverton reportedly turned down Arsenal’s previous bid for Phil Jagielka
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Jagielka has been linked with a switch to the Emirates throughout the current transfer window, with Arsene Wenger looking closely at the Everton defender, along with Blackburn’s Christopher Samba, Bolton’s Gary Cahill and Per Mertesacker from Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen. However, Distin believes Jagielka is going nowehere.
“He’s not come out and said he wants to go anywhere, so I guess that means Jags wants to stay,” Distin said. “It’s still a club to be at. I don’t think any players want to leave here, to be honest. My guess is he’s fine here.
“I haven’t told him not to go, there’s no point doing that. If he comes to me and asks, I’ll tell him what I think, but it’s not happened so we’re happy he’s staying.
“He’s an amazing player, you don’t play for your country if not. He’s still young and still improving. He had some injury problems but seems to be over them now and is doing great, he’s quality. The fact top clubs are after him is a sign of his quality.”
Wenger last month confirmed he would bring in one central defender to boost the club’s depth at the back, but Everton are understood to have turned down a £12 million offer from Arsenal for Jagielka a fortnight ago, while Mertesacker has revealed his desire to play in the Premier League.
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