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Club Focus - Everton - Blues to capitalise in transfer window
Everton may be willing to let James Vaughan leave on loan in the transfer window, and Derby County manager Nigel Clough is eager for the 21-year-old to return Derby County.
Vaughan played just two games for the Rams the last time he was there on loan and will hope to put a long spell of games under his belt. Clough may have to wait however, as David Moyes is still looking for two or three more additions to the Blues’ squad before he allows the youngster to leave. Landon Donovan has already been signed on a two-and-a-half month loan spell and can play behind the front-man. Moyes does have further attacking worries however with Yakubu Ayegbeni at the Africa Cup of Nations, Victor Anichebe injured and Joao Alves Jo banned indefinitely - he is short on strikers and if he doesn’t fill this gap in the January window will certainly keep Vaughan at Goodison. Louis Saha, who has had a terrific season in front of goal, scoring 10 in 17 starts in the Premier League, also has a chequered past concerning injuries and if the Frenchman were to suffer another setback then Vaughan would be the number one replacement. Clough said of Vaughan: “He's got two in two now so I hope he doesn't do too well otherwise they might not let him come back no matter what.”
New signing Donovan has declared himself fully fit and eager to play at least some part in the forthcoming Premier League match against Arsenal. The Gunners play host to the Blues today and the American stated: “Any player wants to play a game like that. To play against Arsenal at the Emirates would be great if I get selected.” The ex-Bayer Leverkusen forward will more than likely watch from the bench until he is back to full fitness as the MLS has been over for a month now. If he doesn’t see any action at the Emirates this weekend he should at least make an appearance against Manchester City or Liverpool in the coming weeks. The 27-year-old is USA’s top scorer of all time with 42 and also boasts 120 caps for his country and his current MLS goals-to-game ratio is also excellent, scoring 64 in 121 for Los Angeles Galaxy. The Goodison faithful will hope to see this return from him as he looks to step up a gear playing in the Premier League as he admitted this week: “I can tell the game is a lot faster here.” He also stated that this will suit his game and style of play and the Everton boss will want him to strike up a good relationship with strikers Saha and Vaughan straight away. Donovan also received the No.9 shirt yesterday and stated he is “proud” to wear the shirt - he also said he knew the significance of the number.
More Blues transfer rumours were spilt onto the pages of newspapers up and down the country this week as the Toffeemen were linked with several key players across Europe. First on the list is Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh - the 25-year-old can also play on the wing and in an attacking midfield role - again this flexibility will suit Moyes with the current injury worries. Nevertheless, it has been reported that the Moroccan also has interest from neighbours Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Another striker Moyes is reportedly interested in is Lyon’s Frederic Piquionne, the ex-Monaco attacker is currently at Portsmouth on loan and has scored six for Pompey this season. Victor Moses was also linked with Everton but the £5m rated forward has quashed any rumours linking him with the Toffees this week when he stated he was happy to stay at Crystal Palace despite being linked with several other clubs - the Nigerian born Englishman has hit five goals in the Championship this year. Moyes is also looking for cover in defence and Alan Hutton of Tottenham Hotspurs could provide cover for Tony Hibbert - the ex-Glasgow Rangers defender is not available for loan however as Steve Bruce’s Sunderland had a bid rejected, the right-back is valued around £4m. Lastly, and the most popular of the transfers rumours leaked out this week, is the potential signing of Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough, the 22-year-old left winger was originally rumour to be valued at £3 to £5m but Chelsea, Liverpool and again Sunderland are also supposedly interested and now the figure seems to have risen to £7m - even Real Madrid are alleged to be interested.
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