Everton may consider sale of Johnson if price is right

Everton could be about to cash in on their striker Andrew Johnson to increase the amount of transfer funds available to the manager David Moyes.

Wigan Athletic are thought to be keen to sign the striker but Everton sources claim it will take an offer of over £10m to convince Everton to sell. Moyes has publicly taken the stance that he does not want to sell the player, and Johnson has also said he wants to stay.

Therefore, for any move to happen Johnson will have to have a change of heart and express a desire to leave the club for whom he scored only six goals in 29 league games last season. He was also often on the bench last term as Moyes prefers to play one up front – Yakubu – with Tim Cahill in the hole. Moyes also has James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe as reserve forwards.

Previously when Johnson has been linked with a move away from Everton, a desire to go back to London has been a reason put forward but it is thought that the 27-year-old and his family are settled in the north-west, which could give Wigan manager, Steve Bruce, reason for hope should he have the funds.

Johnson is in Switzerland at Everton's training camp, so it is unlikely any move would be finalised before the squad return next week.

Everton are now being linked with moves for the Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher – who has just a year left on his Old Trafford contract – and the Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito.

Moyes has been searching for a holding player to replace Lee Carsley, and Fletcher fits the bill.

Elsewhere, Anderson, Lucas and Jo have been named in Brazil's Olympic squad. All three – of Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City respectively – are named as regular Under-23 players and therefore clubs cannot refuse to release them. Milan's Kaka will not go to Beijing after his club refused Brazil's request.

Europe's leading clubs yesterday voted against Fifa's plan to restrict their use of foreign players. Members of the new European Club Association – the successor to the G14 group – used their first meeting to reject the "6+5" rule proposed by Sepp Blatter, president of the world governing body, to protect the national identity of clubs.

The rule would force clubs to start matches with at least six players eligible to play for the national team. Clubs prefer a plan put forward by Europe's governing body, Uefa, based on a quota of players on the roster who were developed in that country, regardless of nationality.