Everton’s Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta is being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United during this summer’s transfer window.

Arteta still has two years left on his current contract at Goodison Park and Toffees boss David Moyes would be loathed to lose one of the star men in his squad.

However, it appears that Red Devils chief Sir Alex Ferguson is set to try his luck with a £10million offer for the player, while Arsenal and Manchester City are also said to be very keen.

City would probably be able to outbid United and the Gunners, but they soured relations with Everton following last summer’s capture of Joleon Lescott and Ferguson would no doubt try and use his good friendship with Moyes to swing a deal if the Merseysiders did decide to sell Arteta.

Jermaine Beckford has now completed his move to Everton and penned a four-year deal at Goodison Park.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent couple of seasons at Leeds and has now been rewarded with a switch to the Premiership, after netting 31 goals for the Elland Road club last term.

The London-born striker moved to Leeds in 2006 but was initially loaned out to Carlisle United in 2006 and Scunthorpe United in 2007.

However he became a vital part of the Leeds side who finally managed to secure promotion back to the Championship this season.

Beckford angered the Leeds faithful by putting in a transfer request in January but boss Simon Grayson managed to hold on to the star hit-man for the all-important run in to the end of the season.

However it seemed inevitable that he would leave during the summer and the former Wealdstone frontman was delighted to seal the move for what will be a journey into the unknown for the talented striker.

“I am excited by it. It’s going to be a test, I know that, but I am looking forward to it,” he said. “I want to test myself at the highest level and luckily for me, David Moyes showed an interest in me, showed some faith in me and hopefully I can repay that.”

Everton finished eighth in the Premiership but were the form team over the second half of the season and Beckford will hope to get his and the club’s season off to a flying start in August to once again challenge for a place in Europe.

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar admits his future is in the balance at Goodison Park after contract talks came to nothing.

The South African is out of contract in 12 months and says it is far from certain where he will be playing his football next season.

It appears there is a sticking point over wages, with Pienaar, 28, determined not to sell himself short.

The former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund star told the Daily Mail: “I’d say the spirit of the discussions was very good, but we have differing valuations, so my future isn’t clear.

“Everton may keep me for the last year of my deal. If they decide to sell, and the move is correct for my career, then I’ll consider it.

“Hopefully this hasn’t been my last season, but who knows?”

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has extended his stay at the club after penning a new long-term contract which will see the Australia star at Goodison Park until 2014.

Cahill had two years to run on his previous deal before it expired and, after the Australian Socceroos star expressed his desire to see out the rest of his career at the club, Everton moved swiftly to keep hold of their influential midfielder.

The 30-year-old – who recently made his 200th start for the Toffees - has netted 56 goals in 209 games for the club and has become pivotal to their cause.

Cahill last week revealed he wanted to stay with David Moyes’ team for the remainder of his career, telling the club’s official website: “The chairman and the gaffer know what I think of the club and so do the players – it is amazing.

“The chairman (Bill Kenwright) knows my thoughts, I will sign here for life.

“I respect everyone so much and hopefully I am here for a long time.”

David Moyes is determined to hold on to some of his top talent to ensure Everton can progress next season.

In previous years, the Everton boss has seen quality young talent such as Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott prised away from Goodison Park when bigger clubs come in with large bids.

There are fears a similar thing could happen this summer as the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester sides have been linked with moves for Everton duo Jack Rodwell and Mikel Arteta.

Moyes told the Daily Express that clubs have previously thought they can take Everton’s top talent away from the club, but this summer there is no need to sell players.

“They know they are going to have to come with a very big cheque. If they come here, they know it is going to be very expensive and our intention is not to let any of the players go,” said the Scot.

Speaking about Arteta and Rodwell, he added: “I expect them to be here next season.”

One player definitely staying at Goodison Park is Australia midfielder Tim Cahill, who has become a huge star with the Everton fans because of his ability to get vital goals.

The 30-year-old joined the club in 2004 and has now signed a new four-year contract to remain with the Toffees until 2014.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has dismissed claims Blues boss David Moyes has been lined up to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he eventually leaves Old Trafford.

Moyes has been consistently linked with the United position when Fergie calls time on the job but distanced himself from the rumours last week, insisting he remains fully committed to Everton.

Now Kenwright has rejected the reports too and again admitted how impressed he has been by the job the former Preston boss has done at Goodison Park in his eight years in charge of the Blues.

Kenwright told the Liverpool Echo: “It’s absolute nonsense to infer that we would let David depart for Manchester United with our blessing.

“If a day like that ever did occur, Evertonians know that I would fight tooth and nail to keep our manager where he belongs.

“Everyone will have read both David Moyes and Alex Ferguson’s comments and what they both describe as typical summer speculation madness.”

Moyes’ link to the Everton job has been fuelled by the fact he is close friends with Ferguson with the United boss admitting on several occasions in the past that he regards his fellow Scot as one of the best managers around.

Everton manager David Moyes has ruled out selling Steven Pienaar and Jack Rodwell this summer, despite a host of club’s reportedly being interested in the pair.

Moyes has been forced to part with some of his star assets in the past because of the Toffees financial situation, with Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott heading out of Goodison Park.

Everton fans now fear Pienaar and Rodwell could be the next two who are tempted away from Merseyside by big money deals.

Pienaar only has 12 months left on his current contract and is reportedly wanted by Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Tottenham and Fiorentina.

Rodwell is also another marked man after an impressive season, the 19-year-old reportedly catching the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

While Rodwell still has four years left on his current deal Moyes has revealed the club are in talks with the promising midfielder in a bid to keep the wolves from the door.
The former Preston boss also revealed that talks are ongoing with Pienaar in a bid to get him to sign a new deal before the World Cup.

“We are speaking to Steven and things are ongoing,” said the Scot.

“He’s at a club which really suits him and Everton have been very good to him.

“There’s something ongoing with Jack Rodwell at the moment, too. He’s got about four years to go I think. But he’s in talks now about a new contract.

“I don’t feel I need to sell anyone. They’re all under contract. Yeah, there will be some with contracts a bit lower than you want but every club has got the same scenario. I think some of them will look and say, ‘Everton is right for me’.

“It’s a good club. It’s a progressive club and the manager is ambitious to take the club forward.

“I’m not sitting here with any worries. I’m laid back about it. I’m quite comfortable. Some people know when clubs suit them. I could name a couple of players who have left and who might now regret it.

“We have done well to keep our players and I think in the main the players who have stayed will say it’s been the right decision.”

Dan Gosling has ruptured his cruciate ligament and will be out of action for up to nine months, Everton have confirmed.

The 20-year-old sustained the injury in a challenge with goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in Saturday’s goalless Premier League draw against Wolves at Molineux.

The England Under-21 midfielder has made a total of 17 appearances this season, scoring three goals.

“I’m really disappointed for Dan,” manager David Moyes told the official club website.

“He’s been making great progress here at Everton and we look forward to having him back as soon as possible.”

Jack Rodwell claims Everton need five wins out of their last six Premier League matches to give them the best chance of European qualification.

David Moyes‘ men have left it late but the Blues are now flying, currently on a five match unbeaten run, with Rodwell still setting his sights on Europe.

Relishing in his new free role as an attacking midfielder, Rodwell knows Everton cannot afford anymore slip ups with the Blues seven points behind fifth placed Manchester City and having played a game more.

He told the Echo: “We know we have to dig deep now and finish on a high. Weve got six games left and we basically need about five wins.

“We’re looking for fourth spot, if not, fifth. We’ve got to try and finish as high as we can now.”

Everton entertain struggling West Ham on Sunday with their other two home games to come against Fulham and Portsmouth, while the three away matches are at Aston Villa, Blackburn and Stoke.

Everton boss David Moyes has lost his battle to keep USA international Landon Donovan on loan from LA Galaxy.

The Scot claimed on Saturday that there was an outside chance of extending the deal, but those hopes have now been dashed.

Via their website, the Toffees revealed: “Landon Donovan has returned to LA Galaxy following his 10-week loan.

“Despite attempts to extend Donovan’s loan period at Everton, LA Galaxy have now recalled him to their squad ahead of the start of the MLS season on March 27.

“It is still unclear if the American league will kick off on time as the threat of a players’ strike looms following disagreements over the labour contract currently in place.”