EVERTON will pursue a ‘bright, young thing’ transfer policy this summer as David Moyes aims – and that could include Wales’ Joe Ledley.
The Blues have been linked with a variety of names over the past couple of weeks but the vast majority of them have no chance of ending up at Goodison Park.
That rules out, among others, Tottenham pair Alan Hutton and Tom Huddlestone, Reading’s Kevin Doyle and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Antonio Reyes.
Moyes has always aimed to buy players whose best years are in front of them and, if possible, for them to be young and British.
High on his list of possibles this summer, then, are Joe Ledley of Cardiff City, Leeds midfielder Fabian Delph and Sheffield United’s flying full-back Kyle Naughton.
A move for Cameroon international Stephane M’Bia – who came close to moving to Goodison 12 months ago – is also being seriously considered.
No movement is expected until Moyes returns to work from his summer break in the next few days but once that happens the pace will pick up.
Further talks are planned with Lars Jacobsen over extending the Denmark international’s stay on Merseyside after Burnley stated their intentions to offer him permanent football.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has quashed speculation he is preparing to offer Phil Neville the role of Middlesbrough’s player-coach.
While Neville has never made any secret of the fact he will continue in the game once he retires from playing, he has no intentions of making that jump just yet.
He enjoyed his best season as an Everton player last year and led to the Blues to the FA Cup final and his former England team-mate knows he would have little chance of taking him to the Riverside.
“The only time I have spoken to Phil is when we were in the same hotel together on holiday,” said Southgate.
“While I would love to have someone of his ability at our club, I imagine he's a key part of what David Moyes wants to do at Everton. He’s just captained them to an FA Cup final and I would not even think of approaching him.”
l EVERTON’S Jack Rodwell helped England to the final of the European U21s Championship last night.
Stuart Pearce’s side let slip a 3-0 lead against Sweden, but eventually won the tie 5-4 on penalties to reach Monday’s final.
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