[Evertonscouser]

Daily Mail

Everton are ready to lead the way in a frantic burst of last-minute pre-season spending by bidding around £10million for Middlesbrough striker Yakubu and £6m for Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes.

With another Premier League campaign just three days away, the scramble for signings became more desperate than ever as Everton, Sunderland, West Ham and Aston Villa all attempted to add to a summer of hectic transfer activity.

Everton look like emerging as the biggest last-minute spenders before the big Premier League kick-off, though, with Yakubu in the frame to smash their record transfer outlay of £8.6m, paid to Crystal Palace for Andy Johnson.

Manager David Moyes' £9m spending on Sheffield United centre back Phil Jagielka and Wigan left back Leighton Baines has looked relatively modest by this summer's standards.

But James Beattie's £3m move to Sheffield United and a long-term injury to James Vaughan, increased the club's need for more firepower.

After costing Middlesbrough £7.5m from Portsmouth, Yakubu's valuation will be at least £10m, particularly with his old club and Manchester City inquiring about his availability.

Moyes has turned to Fernandes - who was on loan at Goodison Park last season - after admitting defeat over Argentina's Lucho Gonzalez, who has resigned for Porto.

If we pull that off that would complete our squad in my opinion.