Moyes close to agreeing new deal

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Moyes and Kenwright will meet to discuss Everton's future

Everton manager David Moyes will sign a new long-term contract at Goodison Park after talks with chairman Bill Kenwright, BBC Sport understands.

Moyes has 12 months remaining on his current deal, but wanted assurances on this summer's transfer budget and the club's future direction.

It is believed a deal is close to being sealed after discussions and Moyes will now start working on transfer targets.

CSKA Moscow's £18m-rayed Brazilian striker Jo, 21, is on Moyes' wish-list.

Moyes submitted an ambitious five-year plan to owner Kenwright designed to build on Everton's fifth-placed finish last season. That has now been signed off, clearing the way for the manager to put pen to paper on a lengthy extension to his contract worth a reported £50,000-a-week.

He is expected to make an influential central midfield man his major transfer swoop, this summer, the need increasing following Lee Carsley's departure for Birmingham.

But he is also an admirer of the free-scoring Jo, who has scored 30 goals in 52 games for CSKA and has recently forced his way into the Brazil team.

Moyes must also decide whether he wants to keep on-loan midfielder Manuel Fernandes at the club.

The 22-year-old's loan spell from Valencia has ended and although he started his second stint at Everton in disappointing fashion, his form improved in the closing games and Moyes must now decide on his next move.

Fernandes pulled out of a £12m move to Everton - after agreeing a deal - to join Valencia last summer but returned to Goodison after a disappointing spell in Spain.

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BBC Sport understands that if Everton pursue Fernandes they will attempt a loan move rather than a permanent cash deal.

Boss Moyes is also keen to ensure striker Andrew Johnson stays at Everton, although he has again been linked with a return to London with West Ham.

Moyes said after leading Everton into the Uefa Cup for the second successive season with a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League: "The board have always supported me. They have always given me backing.

"Every manager wants to get as much as he can and I'm no different but I do think I've always been supported and I'll always be grateful for that. When I took this job I knew that there were not vast sums of money.

"Maybe there are a lot of clubs looking and saying that's the way to go but in the same breath you have to balance that out by having a good board who are going to give your manager some time."

Moyes will also appoint an assistant manager in the summer to replace Alan Irvine, who left to take over as Preston boss in November.