Moyes will try again in bid to land £4m Onuoha

Nedum Onuoha pictured in action for City (GETTY IMAGES)

The Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful of signing Nedum Onuoha on a permanent deal this month having attempted in the past to sign the Manchester City defender.

Onuoha, 25, has two years left on his City deal from this summer but has not been a part of Roberto Mancini's plans for some time and spent last season on loan at Sunderland. He came on as a substitute for City in last night's win over Wigan Athletic – his first Premier League appearance for the club in two years – and would cost around £4m.

Moyes was at the DW Stadium to watch last night's game in which Onuoha only featured because of the raft of injuries and suspensions currently afflicting Mancini's side. Onuoha has on occasions trained with the club's development squad instead of the first team, along with fellow Mancini outcast Wayne Bridge.

Everton have inquired about Onuoha before and were close to signing the player in August last year. The player himself was developed at City's academy but struggled to get games under Mancini's predecessor Mark Hughes as well as the Italian.

It was during negotiations over Onuoha's contract that City's former chief executive, Garry Cook, committed his email gaffe in an exchange with Onuoha's mother Anthonia, who has long represented her son. Cook's subsequent denial, followed by an apology led to his resignation from City in September.