Top five Everton players this season – will Moyes take any of these Blues to Old Trafford?

Manchester United moved swiftly to announce Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, with Everton’s David Moyes signing a six-year deal to become the new Old Trafford gaffer following the culmination of this Premier League campaign.

Considering the money he has spent at Goodison, Moyes’ team have performed above and beyond expectations once again this year and, with a host of Everton players now linked with a move to United, - in conjunction with talkSPORT - looks at the Toffees’ highest rated players this season.

5. Sylvain Distin
The Frenchman has been a regular feature in the Everton back line since signing from Portsmouth in 2009 and has continued his impressive and consistent form once again this campaign. As the Merseysiders continue their late surge for a Europa League place, Distin has been key to this and in the heart of the defence, is making 1.4 tackles per game, while is averaging 9.3 clearances per Premier League encounter, the highest of any Everton player. He may not have scored under Moyes this season, seeing a header unfairly chalked off in the Merseyside Derby, but in making 1.6 interceptions per encounter, his reading of the game is evidently highlighted in his average WhoScored.com rating of 7.16.

4. Phil Jagielka
Alongside Distin in the defence is Jagielka, who has once again won the plaudits with a number of impressive performances. His stamina is an impressive asset of his, having started 34 out of 36 Premier League games this season. Second behind his French team-mate in clearances per game, with 7, the defender is also making 2.1 interceptions and 1.8 tackles per games, while his two goals raise his average rating to 7.18.

3. Leon Osman
With an average rating of 7.2, Osman is Everton’s third highest ranked player to have made more than 20 Premier League appearances this term. Earning his first England cap last November, it was deserved for the midfielder who has netted five and assisted two in 35 starts this season. At 85.7%, his passing accuracy ranks him second behind Phil Neville, while averaging 0.7 key passes and 2.9 long balls per game and being fouled 1.9 times per game and a further 2 shots per appearance points towards his threat from midfield.

2. Leighton Baines
The mooted long term successor to Ashley Cole in the England squad, Baines is currently the most creative defender in Europe, making 3.1 key passes per game. Having started every game this season, the left back is currently the only ever-present outfield starter following Matthew Lowton’s withdrawal against Norwich City for Aston Villa. No player in the Everton squad has provided more

assists than Baines’ five this season and he has played the most accurate corners into the box with 48 in the Premier League, while defensively he’s making 2.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game. Deserving of his average rating of 7.39.

1. Marouane Fellaini
The fifth highest ranked player in the Premier League this season with an average rating of 7.61, with Robin van Persie’s 7.68 meaning he’s the only Manchester United player ahead of Fellaini. Everton’s top scorer with 11 goals this season, while averaging 2.9 shots and 1.2 key passes per game highlights the Belgian’s attacking prowess, not to mention his five assists this season. Defensively, he’s making the most tackles per game out of Everton players to have made more than 20 appearances with 2.7, while his 1.2 interceptions per game highlights his importance to the Everton team.

Does Fellaini deserve to have a higher average rating than Michael Carrick? to find out.