AJ exit boosts Moyes war chest
metrowebukmetroTuesday 29 Jul 2008 8:41 am
Andrew Johnson is set to complete his £12million transfer to Fulham on Tuesday in a move which will fund Everton's renewed bid for Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Johnson was in London for a medical on Monday having not been included in the party that flew to the United States for Everton's training camp on Sunday.
Johnson's departure will give Moyes the cash to try again for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Moutinho, after the Toffees saw an initial £11.8million bid rejected for the 21-year-old Portugal international, with Sporting seemingly insisting on a £20million deal.
Everton are unlikely to be prepared to go that high, but the sale of Johnson to the west Londoners will certainly help boost Moyes' transfer budget.
Johnson's career at Everton virtually ended last week when he was believed to have been reluctant to play in a friendly at Preston after hearing that a move to Fulham was possible.
Although Everton chief executive Keith Wyness denied at the time that a bid had been received from the Cottagers, Johnson's days at Goodison Park have been numbered ever since an angry exchange with Moyes at Deepdale.
Everton will now certainly improve their bid for Moutinho, who expressed a desire to join the club after Sporting's home friendly with Blackburn on Saturday.
Moutinho said: "Everton have already made a proposal, but Sporting did not accept. We will now see what happens in the next few days.
"But Sporting already know my will, I have already transmitted it to the people here. What is my will? With the reasons that I have, I want to leave Sporting and I hope an agreement can be found and that a good solution can be found for both parties."
Everton play Chicago Fire on Wednesday and Colorado Rapids on Sunday. If Moutinho's move is concluded, he could be unveiled in the home friendly against PSV Eindhoven on August 9.
Andrew JohnsonGoodison ParkJoao MoutinhoKeith WynessLisbonPreston