Everton close in on Stojkovic

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Liverpool Echo

EVERTON could be close to making Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic their first signing of the summer.

The Serbian international’s agent Zoran Stojadinovic claimed yesterday that the Blues have made an approach for Stojkovic and only red tape is holding up a one-year loan deal.

Sources at Goodison Park and in Lisbon, however, have suggested that it would be presumptuous to say he is about to become Tim Howard’s deputy.

Stojadinovic is currently in Zagreb trying to obtain the necessary paperwork that will allow Stojkovic – a 24-year-old who has also played for Red Star Belgrade – into the UK and there is no time scale on how long that will take.

What’s more, any potential deal may be complicated by the fact Stojkovic is going to the Olympics next month to captain Serbia’s side – meaning there is a possibility he would miss the first three weeks of the Premier League.

At this stage, it appears likely that Stojkovic will be asked over to Finch Farm for a week’s trial before a final decision is made but that has not stopped the player’s agent talking about making things permanent in 12 months’ time.

“I can confirm that Everton have made a bid for Stojkovic,” said Stojadinovic. “The offer is a season-long loan, with an option to purchase the player definitively at the end of this period. The transfer fee is likely to be between 2.5 and 3 million euros.

Would he be happy being 2nd choice here when he wasn't happy with the same role in Portugal.