[tomvoyeur]

Toffees to drive home Jag deal

The Yorkshire club's relegation means a clause in the player's contract allowing him to leave Bramall Lane for £4million will be triggered.

Everton sources suggest the deal for the utility player could be completed early next week, which could spark a number of moves into the transfer market with manager David Moyes linked with Manchester United pair Alan Smith and Kieran Richardson.

But less likely is a move for West Brom's Wales international midfielder Jason Koumas, with the Toffees questioning his lack of Premier League experience.

And with Moyes also awarding Brazilian midfielder Anderson de Silva a new one-year contract, the need to recruit Koumas seems even less likely.

De Silva arrived full-time on Merseyside in January after initially being signed late in 2005.

Immigration issues meant he could not link up with Everton then and he went on loan to Spanish side CF Malaga. Anderson subsequently gained a European passport and was able to join the club permanently.

He was a regular for the reserves in the second part of the season and made one appearance for the first team a late substitute in the 2-1 win over Charlton in April.

Now Moyes intends to give him the opportunity to prove his ability in the Premier League.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, now with an improved five-year contract, believes significant new deals awarded to several senior stars will encourage players to join the club.

Tim Cahill, Joseph Yobo and Tim Howard are also on substantial long-term deals and Arteta said: "There was a lot of speculation about my future but I said from the start I wanted to stay here.

"I want to play alongside the players mentioned, they are all a good age but have experience as well."

Arteta is confident of seeing some new arrivals in the coming weeks.

He said: "Hopefully we can get more good players here as well because it is going to be a very busy season ahead of us.

"I think the club wants to move forward and bring in more players."

Moyes also insists the board's decision to give Arteta and Cahill improved, long-term contracts has established Everton's financial credibility as a top-six club.

He said: "It is good news regarding Tim and Mikel and credit to the board. They have made sure they get the players good contracts and we now have the nucleus of a good young squad of players and we want to keep them all."