EVERTON will today look to finalise a loan deal for Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes – as Simon Davies heads towards a Goodison exit.
Fernandes underwent a medical at Bellefield yesterday after Everton agreed a six-month deal for the player with a view to making the move permanent in the summer.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder has spent the first half of the season on loan at Portsmouth from Portuguese side Benfica, and was part of the team that beat Everton 2-0 at Fratton Park in December.
Fernandes arrived at Portsmouth in the summer nursing a groin injury and has played 12 games, scoring on his debut in the Carling Cup win over Mansfield in September.
However, the player’s spell on the south coast has suffered from a fall-out with manager Harry Redknapp and complications over the terms of his loan agreement from Benfica, which state Portsmouth would have to sign the player for £12million if he plays three consecutive Premiership games.
That prompted Everton to make their move, with club hopeful of completing the formalities of the deal after receiving the results of Fernandes’s medical this morning.
The midfielder’s impending capture has persuaded Everton manager David Moyes to grant Davies permission to speak to Fulham after the clubs agreed a fee of around £3million for the Wales international.
The 27-year-old travelled south for negotiations with representatives from the Craven Cottage outfit and underwent a medical yesterday, and should complete the transfer today.
Injuries and loss of form meant Davies has endured a largely disappointing time at Goodison since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in a £3.5m deal in May 2005.
In 53 appearances for the club, his winner against Birmingham City at St Andrews last season is the only goal Davies has scored for the club.
Meanwhile, a number of senior players will turn out for Everton’s reserve team for the mini-derby against Liverpool at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground (kick-off 7pm).
Richard Wright, Alessandro Pistone, Andy van der Meyde and James Vaughan are all expected to play in a strong Everton line-up, with Andy Holden’s team having beaten their neighbours 2-1 at the Halton Stadium earlier in the campaign.
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