Yakubu heads to Leicester on loan

Everton are finally to part company with Yakubu, who has agreed to go on loan to Leicester with a view to a permanent deal.

The Nigerian's departure to join Sven Goran Eriksson, which brings the curtain down on four years on Merseyside in which he never recaptured the form of a halcyon first season, will free up funds for Everton to pursue a loan deal for the Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani, who manager David Moyes hopes would create extra firepower.

In Mbokani Everton will find a player who has struggled to settle since his summer move from Standard Liège, netting only once in nine appearances.

Leicester are one of the few Championship clubs who could afford to pay Yakubu's £40,000 a week wages.

The Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, has confirmed his interest in signing Everton's Phil Neville but says it won't be easy to convince him to move.