Everton hopeful of striking Jo deal

Brazilian striker Jo is likely to be involved in Everton's first pre-season friendly at Bury on Friday.

The former CSKA Moscow striker, who spent five months on loan at Goodison Park from Manchester City last season, is with the Toffees at their Scottish training camp as the final points of another loan deal are completed.

And a one-year loan arrangement will delight Everton assistant boss Steve Round, who was hugely impressed with the £18m forward while working with him last term.

Everton revealed yesterday that they are in talks with City about re-signing the 22-year-old, and the player was allowed to travel to Scotland with Everton.

Round said: "I am very much hoping a deal can be put in place. I think we saw last season what he is capable of.

"Last season, the manager (David Moyes) was very keen on Jo and perhaps tried to sign him but was piped at the post by City."

Last season's loan stint at Goodison saw Jo rejuvenated after a frustrating spell at Eastlands, scoring five goals but being cup-tied for the FA Cup final.

Round said: "He came in as a young player to Manchester and struggled at first.

"The Premier League is different to anything else anywhere in the world. But he found his feet with us, came through and got us some goals. He's certainly a player we would like to have in our squad and firing.

"It's up to the club to try and finalise a deal. Hopefully that will come off and we'll have a very, very good player in our squad."

Everton have been linked with Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour, a former club colleague of the Toffees' record signing Marouane Fellaini. But a suggested fee of £13m is unrealistic.

Moyes is also interested in Sheffield United's young defender Kyle Naughton, but again the £6m fee suggested is beyond the Barclays Premier League club's valuation.

Everton have, however, completed the signing of 17-year-old German defender Shkodran Mustafi from Hamburg. The youngster, of Albanian descent, has signed a three-year contract in a deal initially agreed last season.

The club have also overtaken last term's total of 23,220 season-ticket sales, with the figure nearing 24,000.