A number of Portuguese news sources have suggested that Everton are ready to improve their bid for Sporting Lisbon Midfielder Joao Moutinho. The 21 year-old impressed at Euro 2008, and Sporting have already rejected Everton’s initial £11.8 million approach, which proved a catalyst for Moutinho expressing his desire to leave.

Portuguese website, ‘Record‘ , have reported that Everton will offer €19 million (£15 m), stating that the sale of Andrew Johnson has prompted Everton to up their offer, although it still falls short of Moutinho’s £19.7 valuation, which is also Moutinho’s buy-out clause which is active until 15th June each year. As part of the deal Everton will pay cash plus bonuses if Moutinho helps Everton qualify for the Champions League. Further grease to the wheels is that a clause in Moutinho’s contract entitles him to 10% of any rejected bid, so if Sporting reject the offer it is believed that Sporting will have to pay €1.9 million to Moutinho, and there is debate that Sporting already need to pay Moutinho €1.5 million Euros after they rejected Everton’s first offer.

Another Portuguese website, Jornal de Notícias have claimed that Everton will make an offer closer to €20 million in a five year deal, that would see Moutinho double his wages to £35,000 a week.

The whole saga has been linked to the sale of Andrew Johnson although Everton have stated that Johnson wished to move for personal reasons and that the club’s pursuit of Moutinho is independent of the move, put simply Johnson was not sold off to raise funds suggesting that Johnson’s departure provides an unexpected cash boon, allaying fears of a financial crisis being responsible for Everton’s lack of transfer activity so far this summer. However the sudden departure of CEO Keith Wyness has spread fears that it may scupper the deal, given that Wyness is believed to have been behind the amount of money that will be paid for Portuguese star, and further that David Moyes is currently on tour with his squad in North America. However, Pini Zahavi is Moutinho’s agent and is also working on Everton’s side of the deal too, with him in control Everton know they’ve got the best to bring in Moutinho. Zahavi is also Yakubu’s agent.

Everton fans must wait in anxious anticipation as to whether or not Moutinho will become the clubs biggest ever signing.