Everton Rumour Mill - Aimar, Aurellio, Bassong, Fletcher

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton are eyeing Barcelona striker Santi Ezquerro. DiarioSport says Everton are keen to land Ezquerro, should Barca agree to grant the versatile forward a free transfer.

[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.

[Oliver_Kahn]

After signing Baines, do you have that much cash ?

[Evertonscouser]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

After signing Baines, do you have that much cash ?

God knows. The fee fopr baines was 5.8 million... meaning we have only actually spent 4.8 million this window, taking into consideration sales we have made. If we have 11million to spend on Lucho, it wouldn't be a huge ask to find an extra 5million, for when the likes of these two come availible, especially Manny.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Evertonscouser

God knows. The fee fopr baines was 5.8 million... meaning we have only actually spent 4.8 million this window, taking into consideration sales we have made. If we have 11million to spend on Lucho, it wouldn't be a huge ask to find an extra 5million, for when the likes of these two come availible, especially Manny.

I think it's unlikely that you'll get Fernandes, he is back as being one of fan favourites, after Simao leaving I doubt if Benfica's president would upset the fans again.

[Evertonscouser]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

I think it's unlikely that you'll get Fernandes, he is back as being one of fan favourites, after Simao leaving I doubt if Benfica's president would upset the fans again.

Good point. But isnt Manny half owned by MSI or a similar investment group? If they accepted a bid from us for their half, would Benfica have a choice but to sell or could they veto a deal?

[kyan]

Everton have failed with their audacious approach for Argentine star Lucho Gonzalez.

A host of clubs including Real Madrid, Valencia and Manchester City also held an interest in the highly-influential midfielder.

However, Everton had hoped their bid - believed to be £11million - would secure a deal, but Porto have instead moved to secure Gonazlez's long-term future by snapping up the remaining 50 per cent of his rights.

Porto only owned half the player following his move from River Plate in 2005, which left him susceptible to approaches.

But Gonzalez is now entirely owned by Porto after they paid 6.5 million euros for the remainder of his rights.

Toffees look elsewhere

Everton are now set to renew their interest in Benfica's Manuel Fernandes - who impressed hugely whilst on loan at Goodison Park last season.

The Toffees are also said to have joined the hunt for Middlesbrough's Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Porto shun Toffees bid | The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World

I guess this doesn't come as a surprise

And on Fernandes it looks like he is only half-owned, but it's bad news for Everton:

Benfica insist they are looking to hold onto Manuel Fernandes for the coming season.

Fernandes spent last season on loan in England, firstly with Portsmouth and then with Everton.

He impressed with both, but he excelled with The Toffees and now manager David Moyes is looking to strike a deal.

Benfica want to keep Fernandes and a spokesman told skysports.com that they intended to keep hold of the 21-year-old.

"The player has a deal with us and it does not enter our plans to see him exit this summer," said the spokesman.

Player happy

Benfica only own 50 per cent of the player, so it is not certain they would be able to fend off any interest - but Fernandes insists he is happy to remain at the Estadio da Luz.

"I am happy at Benfica and now I am only thinking about a good season ahead," he commented.

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Benfica want Fernandes stay | The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World

[Evertonscouser]

Liverpool Echo

EVERTON are lining up a sensational £18million double swoop for Yakubu and Manuel Fernandes after missing out on bringing Luis Gonzalez to Goodison.

David Moyes has moved quickly to alter his targets after admitting defeat in his attempts to sign Argentina international midfielder Gonzalez, who has instead negotiated a new deal with his club Porto.

The Portuguese club rejected Everton’s £10m offer for the 26-year-old after spending £4m to acquire the remaining 50% of the player’s ownership rights.

Fernandes, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton, was thought to be close to joining Sven-Goran Eriksson’s new-look Manchester City.

But the Portuguese midfielder made no secret of his desire to make permanent a move to Everton during his spell at the club and the Goodison outfit are now clear favourites to capture his signature after lodging a bid in the region of £8m for the 21-year-old Benfica player.


Everton’s need for a new striker became more pressing when James Vaughan was sidelined until at least November with a dislocated shoulder and James Beattie was sold to Sheffield United for £4m.


And Moyes has made what is believed to be a club record £10m offer for Middlesbrough forward Yakubu.


The Nigerian cost the Teessiders £7.5m when arriving from Portsmouth in 2005, with this former club among a number of clubs linked with a move for the 24-year-old.


But Everton are prepared to smash the club record £8.6million they splashed out on Andrew Johnson to sign Yakubu, and can offer the prospect of European football.


Meanwhile, Phil Neville believes Everton have signed a “little tiger” after Leighton Baines completed his move to Goodison yesterday.


Baines put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Goodison outfit having previously agreed a £5million deal with Wigan Athletic which could rise to £6m depending on a number of additional clauses.


The 22-year-old left-back, who was born in Kirkby, turned down offers from Newcastle United and Sunderland to become Everton’s new number three.


Baines was ironically released by Everton’s Academy as a youngster before ending up at Wigan, where he made 162 appearances and scored four goals in six years at the JJB Stadium.


And Goodison skipper Neville is delighted with the new arrival and is confident local boy Baines has the attributes to prove a major hit with supporters.


“He’s one of us,” said Neville. “You need those type of character in the club, good local English players. They know the game.


“When he first came up to the Premier League, I didn’t know much about him but then I played against him in the opening few weeks, and found he’s a little tiger.


“He’s in your face, round your legs and he never knows when he’s been beaten. He impressed me straight away. You see someone of his stature and you think you can get at him, but we couldn’t that day.


“He is a great defender, good going forward and


really strong and tough and takes no prisoners from anyone. That’s why he will fit in superbly here and that’s why the fans will love him.


“He’s a Scouser and he knows all about the club, and that helps. From day one, when everyone was bidding for him, you could tell the only club he wanted to join was Everton.”


Baines’s burgeoning reputation at Wigan led to international recognition, with the full-back having so far earned 16 caps for the England under-21 side.


“It’ll help his England prospects coming to Everton,” said the captain. “We’re a more fashionable club than Wigan and it’ll help his own game playing in front of 40,000 every week. The expectation and pressure is greater here.”

[Oliver_Kahn]

Yesterday benfica's president ruled out a move for Fernandes.

[Evertonscouser]

Yakubu left out of Boro squad. Transfer to us looking very good.

[Evertonscouser]

Yakubu deal off according the Sky Sports News.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton are eyeing Love and will move for the forward should plans for Middlesbrough's Yakubu Aiyegbeni fall through.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton in Dundee talks for McDonald

Everton are in talks with Dundee for Scotland U21 international midfielder Kevin McDonald.

The Daily Record says Everton boss David Moyes, whose £100,000 bid for the 18-year-old was turned down last season, had McDonald watched against St Johnstone last weekend and with the Scots kids in Tuesday's defeat of Czech Republic. Dens Park manager Alex Rae will ask for the player, thought to be valued at around £150,000, back on loan if the move goes ahead.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton are offering £5 million for Bolton Wanderers midfielder Kevin Nolan. The Sun says Blues boss David Moyes came unstuck when £12million target Fernandes did a late U-turn and opted for a move to Valencia.