“I think, along with Wayne Rooney, Jack really is the future of England,” Donovan said to the Daily Star.

“Following England’s World Cup campaign, I know the coach is being urged to bring through young blood. I really believe Jack could rejuvenate this England team.

“I don’t give out false praise but this young guy really is a future world-beater. I am sure he can make the same impact for club and country that Wayne and David [Beckham] have – that’s really how good he is.

“I have obviously trained and played with him at Everton and he is just a natural football player. Like Wayne it’s effortless to him.

“He is a down-to-earth guy who genuinely loves his club, I was so pleased to hear he had signed a five-year contract and I think he is the sort of guy who will honor it unless Everton receive an offer they deem so good they can’t turn it down.”

“I expect a lot of goals from him. I think he will be one of the players of the season,” Donovan announced. “If he hits form I really think it’s impossible to rule Everton out of a top-four finish.

“Like Wayne, he has no fear and I feel he is already ready to play at the highest level. Long-term I am sure Sir Alex has an eye on him and, not only could he be a future Manchester United player, he could be their future Wayne Rooney. That’s how highly I rate him.”

“He is the most exciting young player in the Premier League and, with Alexandre Pato at AC Milan and Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, one of the most exciting in Europe.

“He can be a huge player for both club and country.”

“The top players in the world, the Gerrards and Kakas score from long distance and that is something I am aiming to work on in my game.’ Rodwell told the Daily Post.

The 19 year-old has already scored twice in pre-season, but believes he can keep improving.

“I am still young so hopefully I can keep on improving.”

A fee of about £4m should be enough to sign Holland under-21 international – who is close to breaking into the Dutch senior international team.

Fer, 20, is a goal scorer – a good player with excellent potential that the club have been monitoring for months and now the 6ft 2″ midfielder is expected to sign for us this summer.

The signing would continue the club’s policy of buying for the future with young attackers Joao Silva and Magaye Gueye already signing for the club and us also securing first refusal to sign Azerbaijan prospect Araz Abdullayev.

Fer, nicknamed “the bouncer” is a combative, tough-tackling midfielder with bags of skill and ability and loves to drive forward with the ball – I would say he is a cross between Fellaini and Fernandes.

Meanwhile Donovan’s former team-mates impressed on their first outing of the 2010/11 season beating A-League Champions Sydney FC at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park. Victor Anichebe looked most impressive, and the Nigerian scored a fantastic goal from a Leighton Baines pass just after the break, turning his defender and powering a shot into the top corner from close range. Everton new boy Magaye Gueye was given the 2nd half to impress and certainly didnt look out of place in David Moyes’s side, who wore their brand new fluorescent pink kit. Fellow new boys Joao Silva and Jermaine Beckford didn’t play, with Silva an un-used substitute and Beckford sitting out through injury.

We were given a picture of the 18 year-old left midfielder with Dan Gosling, presumably at Flinch Farm whilst he was having a medical. We also have pictures of the player actually having a medical (below) on June 24th [original source]. The source suggests he successfully passed the medical. Everton were apparently alerted to the talents of Abdullayev when he scored against Scotland.

“Tim is one of my closest friends and he always talks so passionately about Australia,” Arteta said.

“To be able to share the experience with him of being in Australia, and playing for Everton in Australia, is something that I will really enjoy,”

“It always adds to pre-season when we have a destination that is exciting and somewhere the players look forward to visiting,”

“We have had some great pre-seasons at Everton because of the destinations and the training facilities.”

“The USA has been popular with the manager in the last four years for these reasons and Australia fits the same bill.”

“Of course, Dwight Yorke is very familiar to us as is Jesper Olsen I also remember John Aloisi from his days playing in Spain.”

“I do know that if the players in the sides we face are all as competitive as Tim, then we are in for some intense matches but that is what pre-season is all about.”

“The Australian sporting mentality is something I really admire and I’m looking forward to experiencing it first-hand.”

Arteta will play in against Melbourne and Sydney with Cahill, before both head off to his wedding in Spain where Cahill will be a groomsman.

Goalkeeper shirt:

Yesterday we informed you that the 19 year-old was on the verge of completing a transfer to Goodison Park for around 1m and now Gueye has penned a 5 year contact with Everton – which has been confirmed by the French club.

The France under-21 international usually plays as a striker or on either wing and has blistering pace. He contributed 11 goals last season for Strasbourg but that could not prevent them from being relegated. He will join the long list of strikers competing for a place up front; Yakubu, Saha, Beckford, Silva, Vaughan, Anichebe Jutkiewicz, Agard and Baxter.

The 19 year old, who can also play on either wing, is known for his blistering pace and will join up with Everton on Thursday before jetting to Australia on pre-season tour with the rest of the squad.

Everton have fended off competition from a host of Premier League clubs and most notably, French giants Lyon, whom the young striker rejected in favour of a move to Goodison Park – Lyon had matched Everton’s bid. Gueye is believed to have preferred a move to Everton after he was seduced by the opportunity of playing in the Premier League.

It is unclear why Everton would want so many strikers on their books with Yakubu, Saha, Vaughan, Anichebe, Beckford, Joao Silva, Gueye and Agard all fighting for a place up front – so it does now look more likely that James Vaughan will leave the club with possibly more departures.

PS: Not that much is known about Joao Silva or Gueya. Silva is considered to be the new Pauleta – a technically gifted player and clinical finisher. Gueya is very pacy (apparently was the fastest player in Ligue 2) but has apparently had a lot of trouble with injuries. This could be another ‘In Moyes We Trust’ job..

Evertonians are desperate to see fan favourite Donovan return to Everton permanently as we have been in need of a right sided player for a while now, often resulting to playing central midfielders such as Osman ineffectively in that role. Landon Donovan, 28, provides creativity, pace and versatility as he can play anywhere across the midfield and up front. He is also a leader on the pitch, he’s a special player.

Moyes is now determined to get his man this summer and will open talks with LA Galaxy.  We know Donovan will want to return, having seen him hint at a return for months now, we just need to tempt them to part with their star player with a very good offer… money. In my opinion, Donovan would ‘complete’ our first team and turn us into a real top four side.

The News of the World included this quote apparently from an Everton insider: “There’s always a chance of him coming back but it’s a question of what LA Galaxy want.”