Flush Everton to sign £9m Russian winger

Published on Tuesday 25 August 2009 00:31

EVERTON will spend some of the cash from Joleon Lescott’s sale to Manchester City on Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

A delegation from Goodison Park is expected to fly to Hamburg today to conduct a medical on the Locomotiv Moscow left winger, who is likely to cost manager David Moyes close to 9 million.

The 24-year-old will need a work permit, but with him being a regular in the Russia side, that is unlikely to be a problem.

Holding the medical in Hamburg will also speed up the move ahead of next week’s deadline because Bilyaletdinov does not have a visa as yet to enter the UK.

Lescott was in Manchester completing his own medical which will trigger an end to the summer-long saga over his transfer to Eastlands. Everton will get 22 million, rising to 24 million with various add-ons, and that gives Moyes just a week to do his own transfer business.

Everton acquired a work permit on Friday for Valencia’s Argentina international midfielder Ever Banega, who has been on loan at Atletico Madrid. But there is still some confusion over that deal, with Valencia and the player’s agent insisting they are not in negotiations with the Merseysiders.

Moyes, who claims he wants four new faces in his squad before the transfer window shuts, is aiming to buy two defenders. He has been linked with Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross, Middlesbrough pair David Wheater and Robert Huth, Bolton’s Gary Cahill and Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos.

It was claimed that Everton were also in contact last week over Stephen Taylor’s availability. Bilyaletdinov, though, could be the first arrival, the 6ft 1in player having appeared 28 times for his country.

Moyes, though, will have to select from his current players for Thursday’s Europa League play-off second leg away to Sigma Olomouc.

The 4-0 first leg victory over the Czech side is struggling Everton’s only win of the season having lost 1-0 on Sunday at Burnley to add to the opening day 6-1 defeat by Arsenal.