Is it time to trust Martinez over Cleverley rumour?
The much-criticised England international is reportedly on Everton's summer wanted list.
By Tom Mallows@TomMallows_ Apr 23, 2014, 12:06pm BST
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Richard Heathcote
Reports on Wednesday suggest that Everton may be willing to pay £8million for the 24-year-old, who has had a difficult season at Old Trafford, though that fee may be a bit high given he is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Cleverley isn't alone in being the subject of criticism during a miserable season for United, but he appears to have been a popular target for the boo-boys.
England fans also voiced their displeasure earlier this season when Cleverley continued to be selected for the national side, with a petition even set up to oppose his inclusion in this summer's England World Cup squad.
All this would suggest Everton are potentially signing a flop should the transfer deal go through in the summer.
Certainly had David Moyes still been in charge at Goodison there would have been accusations of once again currying favour with Sir Alex Ferguson by taking United's cast-offs off his hands.
But now we have Roberto Martinez in charge is it time to trust his judgement?
After all the canny Spaniard has not put a foot wrong so far this season, lifting the club to the brink of the Champions League playing a style of football not seen by the men in Blue for decades.
He deserves our patience and understanding.
Don't forget Martinez is familiar with Cleverley after signing him on-loan for Wigan in 2010, where he played a key role in keeping the Latics in the Premier League.
You also have to remember that a few doubts were raised when £13million was splashed out on James McCarthy last summer - how wrong they have been proven now.
Darron Gibson was also the subject of sustained criticism like Cleverley when he was playing for Manchester United. The Ireland international was even forced off Twitter due to the abuse he received from United supporters.
Yet he was a revelation in an Everton shirt and will be welcomed back into the first-team fold when he recovers from injury in the summer.
When the transfer window opens there will undoubtedly be the usual annual merry-go-round of rumour and conjecture. With Everton actually having some cash to spend this summer those rumours may well step up a notch, with expectations rising as a result.
As fans I think we just have to sit back and reserve judgement until we see all of Martinez's signings on the field. Only then will we see how his grand Everton vision is progressing.
And given his impact so far, we may well be pleasantly surprised.