Everton: Everton

Wayne Rooney has been told he need not report back for pre-season training with Everton until a week after his Goodison Park team-mates.

The Blues' 17-year-old striker has been involved in almost non-stop footballing action since he returned to training last July for his first pre-season with the senior side.

And his recent 57-minute appearance for England against Slovakia confirmed manager David Moyes' fears that the youngster's form has suffered from such a long and exhaustive 12 months.

Moyes, who has told Rooney to take a complete break away from the game for a full month, admits it has been an arduous introduction into the ranks of professional football for the young player.

What a talent he his but they are right he is only 17 and needs a rest to recharge..

David Moyes' choice is clear - does he spin out his transfer budget or does he blow the lot on one star buy.

In one dramatic season Moyes' Everton surpassed all expectations, but going the extra mile will be far, far more difficult for the Goodison Park chief.

And that extra mile will seem a lot, lot longer with only �5million or so to spend trying to improve his squad.

The attempts to get Li Tie on another season's loan rather than spend any of his kitty on the Chinese midfielder speaks volumes for the situation Moyes and Everton are now in.

He knows his squad, all of whom are likely to be there next term with contracts still to run, just failed to reach Europe last season.

They were found wanting in the final chase for Europe when a touch of class was sadly missing amid all the commendable sweat and toil.

Li Tie could be about to become Asia's Footballer of the Year but his immediate Everton future is in limbo.

The Chinese midfielder made a big impact on the Barclaycard Premiership in his first season at Goodison Park but it is not certain yet that he will stay on Merseyside.

Li Tie arrived at Everton after the World Cup finals as a virtual unknown in European soccer and on a one-year loan as part of the club's sponsorship deal with Chinese firm Kejian.

He was part of a double loan deal which also included Li Weifeng, but the defender has already been released by Everton and returned to China.

Li Tie's own loan agreement has now expired and Everton are negotiating with his club Liaoning over a permanent move.

The Toffees have benefited from increased merchandise sales in the Far East with Li Tie in their ranks in addition to his guile on the pitch.

But it is believed Liaoning want far more than Everton are prepared to pay for the 25-year-old, with a �1million fee being quoted.

Everton have finally won the battle to sign Nigerian ace Joseph Yobo after months of rows over the World Cup defender's pay-off from Marseille.

And that means the �300,000 Yobo insists he is owed will be paid by the French club.

Yobo has been on loan at Goodison Park for a season, which cost Everton an initial �1million, and they have now agreed to pay a further �3.5million to complete the permanent deal.

Everton took up their side of the option on Yobo earlier in the season, but the player - who changed agents during the campaign - claimed he was not happy with his side of the deal and would not sign until the pay-off from his French club was sorted out.

Everton officials flew to Marseille last week to try to break the deadlock, but returned without a clear decision.

But further negotiations have now been successful and Yobo will sign a contract keeping him at Goodison Park until 2007.

Everton chief executive Mike Dunford has confirmed the deal.

I think Moyes has done wonders at Everton. I don't think they will ever be a top three side again, but Europe is a definate possibility this season.

Yep i agree the had a really good season and it looks like they are not going to make the mistake West Ham did and not improved the squad...I expect them to make 1 big signing and could well be in for a excellent season again..

He is very good in the market, lot's of loan deals, which gives the club of seeing if the player can cut the mustard before paying out the fee, good business sense.

Everton manager David Moyes has admitted chasing the signature of Fulham's Sean Davis after convincing young prospect Kevin McLeod to put pen to paper on a new contract.

Fulham insist their midfielder is not for sale, a spokesman for the west London club adding: "Even if he was, Everton couldn't afford him."

A �6m fee for Davis has been mooted, and that could mean cash-strapped Moyes switching his attention to Charlton's Scott Parker.

David Moyes has confirmed his interest in boyhood Everton fan Steve McManaman.

The former Liverpool star appears to be on his way out of Madrid after being left out of Real's UEFA squad and not receiving a club number for next season.

The 31-year-old player's wages - currently more than �60,000 a week, will be a massive stumbling block for cash-strapped Moyes, who still dreams of bringing McManaman back to Merseyside.

But he is not alone - Manchester City chief Kevin Keegan has already declared an interest in the player but claims he cannot afford the midfielder's wages.

Moyes, currently in Austria with his squad at training camp, says: "Steve McManaman is someone who I think could be a good addition to the squad."

Everton have denied claims they have signed Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman on a free transfer.

The former Liverpool star's future at the Bernabeu is in doubt following David Beckham's high-profile arrival at the club and he had been linked with a return to the Premiership, with Goodison Park or Manchester City both touted as possible destinations.

Blues boss David Moyes did say earlier this week that McManaman was the type of player he would love to sign, but both he and Everton head of PR and communications Ian Ross have denied that the 31-year-old had joined on a free transfer.

Ross said: "It's news to me," with Moyes adding: "We've not made any approach for him and I've not had any contact with Steve McManaman because he is under contract with Real Madrid."

David Moyes has warned Wayne Rooney he will not be guaranteed a starting position at Everton this season.

The 17-year-old striker is currently recovering from a groin injury sustained while at the club's Austrian training camp and Moyes is keen not to put too much pressure on the England international.

Moyes told the Liverpool Daily Post: "He played a massive part last season and he might start more games this time around.

"But that comes down to a number of factors such as players' in form, players with confidence and which players need a break. There is no guarantee.

"If Wayne Rooney wants a guaranteed starting position, it won't be at Everton.

"I think the second season will be difficult for Wayne, but he is more than able to cope with what it will bring.

"We need to make sure he's in the right condition physically and mentally and try, once again, not to put too much expectation on him.

"He is still only 17 and he has already improved. He had a great first season in the Premiership and hopefully there will be many more after this.''

Rooney is expected to miss two more days training as the club's medical team want to make sure he is 100% before resuming pre-season preparations.

Everton open their pre-season programme on Thursday night with a practice match against Austrian Second Division side Bad Goisern.

Wayne Rooney will sit the game out as he recovers from a groin strain, as will the other players involved in international duty during the summer, but David Moyes will be looking to use the rest of his squad at some stage, with Alex Nyarko allocated the number 21 jersey.

One player looking to make an early impression is Kevin McLeod, who agreed a new 12-month contract last week after face-to-face talks with the Everton manager.

At the time McLeod said he was not prepared to stay at Goodison if he felt he did not have a realistic chance of breaking into the first team and although he is now raring to go, he is still wary about his future prospects at the club.

He said: "Obviously if I don't get in at an early stage of the season then I'll have to look at my options, but when the boss talked to me about the new contract he said it was the chance to prove myself, so now it is all down to me."

David Moyes has confirmed he is keen to bring Gavin McCann back to Goodison, but revealed Sunderland's asking price has hampered his efforts.

Moyes, whose efforts to sign Fulham midfielder Sean Davis were thwarted, has enquired over McCann's availability but cash-strapped Sunderland are keen to recoup as much money as possible following their relegation to Division One.

McCann left Goodison Park in 1998 to join Sunderland in a �500,000 deal and has blossomed at the Stadium of Light, even forcing himself into the England side back in 2001.

Moyes told the club's official website: "He's a player that I have made an enquiry about but at the present time the price that's being asked for him is too much.

"That's how it is but he is a player that we admire and it's true that we are interested in Gavin.

"I think everyone is trying to make some moves and we're no exception."

England have been told Wayne Rooney should be back to full fitness for the Euro 2004 qualifying double-header against Macedonia and Liechtenstein in early September following his weekend injury scare.

Everton on Sunday confirmed the teenage striker will miss the start of the Barclaycard Premiership season after he fell awkwardly and suffered ankle ligament damage in the club's 3-2 friendly victory over Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Rooney immediately returned to Liverpool from Scotland for medical assessment. An X-ray revealed no break but a scan confirmed the injury which will keep him out of action for four weeks, meaning he is out of Sven-Goran Eriksson's plans for the friendly against Croatia at Ipswich on August 20.

But better news for Eriksson is that Everton's head physio Mick Rathbone believes Rooney should be back in action in time for the trip to Macedonia on September 6 and the home match with Liechtenstein at Old Trafford four days later.

Rooney, who put in an outstanding display on his first competitive start for England in the 2-0 win over Turkey at the Stadium of Light in April, will miss Everton's opening Premiership fixtures against Arsenal and Fulham

Everton manager David Moyes is considering looking to boost his strike force before the start of the season.

Wayne Rooney will miss the beginning of the campaign after picking up an ankle injury in the friendly against Rangers on Saturday.

Duncan Ferguson is also ruled out as he is suspended, leaving Moyes short of options up front.

Moyes told the Liverpool Echo: "I am told that Wayne will be missing for a month.

"That leaves us short as Duncan Ferguson is suspended for the first three games.

"I may have have to look at bringing someone in - if only on loan - to tide us over.

"At present we are going into the season with Kevin Campbell, Tomasz Radzinski and Nick Chadwick as our only available forwards.

"This is a situation I will need to assess carefully."

David Moyes wants to bring Francis Jeffers back to Everton as well as signing Fulham's wantaway midfielder Sean Davis.

The Everton chief has revealed his desire to end Jeffers' Arsenal nightmare but accepts that financial constraints may prevent the club moving for their former striker.

Everton's desperate striking crisis, with Duncan Ferguson suspended and Kevin Campbell out for a month with a hamstring problem, has prompted Moyes to search for additions up front.

Ferguson, Campbell, Lee Carsley, Scot Gemmill and Niclas Alexandersson are all out of the Premiership opener at Arsenal, where Moyes will no doubt have an opportunity to discuss Jeffers' future with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Li Tie's determination to return to Everton permanently paved the way for one of the summer's most complicated transfers.

The 25-year-old midfielder has now signed a three-year deal at Goodison Park for a fee believed to be around �1m - with two-thirds of that cash being funded by Far East sponsorship.

And after concluding weeks of wrangling with the Chinese club Liaoning Everton boss David Moyes, having lost Scot Gemmill for six weeks with a torn thigh muscle, can now redouble his efforts to snare Fulham's want-away midfielder Sean Davis - especially as Fulham are in talks with Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna.

The Chinese ace was linked with Newcastle, Leeds and Southampton but Li Tie clearly wanted to return to Goodison after his year-long loan and said: "During the last two months, my agent told me that there was interest from a number of other clubs, but I never thought I would leave Everton and I didn't want to.

Marseille striker Cyril Chapuis was reported to be in Liverpool on Thursday with a view to signing a contract with Everton.

Chapuis, whose first-team opportunities at the Stade Velodrome have been limited by the arrival of Egyptian striker Mido and Didier Drogba in the summer, was looking around the Premiership club's facilities, according to reports in France.

The 24-year-old began his career at Niort before moving on to Rennes and then Marseille.

Last season he played 33 Ligue 1 matches for Marseille, scoring four goals.

Chelsea may boast the biggest purchase of transfer deadline day with Claude Makelele but it is fellow Barclaycard Premiership side Everton who made the most successful moves.

The Real Madrid midfielder's switch to Stamford Bridge, for a reported �16million, was confirmed early this morning but it is David Moyes who has created waves by bringing in former favourite Francis Jeffers as well as Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane and veteran goalkeeper Nigel Martyn from Leeds.

Potentially even more significantly, however, is the deal which has been struck with Motherwell to take Scotland's rising star James McFadden to Goodison Park.

It is third time lucky for Moyes, who followed up an initial enquiry for the 20-year-old with a firm bid late last night only to be rebuffed.

However, following a third approach later in the day the Scottish club bowed to pressure and agreed to allow their hottest property to talk to Everton chiefs with the 5pm deadline looming.

McFadden completed his �1.25million move but Moyes has warned the Scotland international to expect to start his English career on the bench.

Everton manager David Moyes is pondering a move for Strasbourg midfielder Christian Bassila.

The former French under-21 international has impressed for the French top flight side this season, scoring three goals, and is being monitored by a number of top clubs across Europe.

Reports have suggested the Blues are ready to offer Alex Nyarko in a part exchange deal,