evertonfc.com- A tribunal has ruled that Everton will pay an initial £600,000 for teenage defender Luke Garbutt.

Garbutt, 16, signed for the Toffees in July having exercised an option to leave Leeds United, where he had been a part of the League One side’s academy.

The Yorkshire club were due compensation following the transfer and both clubs agreed that a figure would be set by a tribunal of the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFCC), which is made up of representatives from the Football League, Premier League, PFA and Football Association.

The hearing, which took place at the Premier League’s offices in London on Monday, declared that Everton should pay an initial £600,000, which could rise by an additional £750,000 depending on appearances.

There will be a further additional payment of £200,000 if the player makes a senior international appearance, while Leeds would also receive 20 per cent of any profit should Garbutt be sold on.

The Harrogate-born left-back is currently part of Everton’s Under-18 set-up and has England Under-17 honours as well as reserve team experience for the Blues this season.

Everton’s academy manager Ray Hall said: “This is very much a transfer for the future for Everton. It’s not an uncommon move to make – many Premier League clubs invest in young talent with a view to nurturing and developing them.

“We are all delighted to have Luke at the Club – he is an excellent prospect and he will be allowed to mature and learn his trade with our Academy staff and players.

“I know the manager will be keeping an eye on his progress, as he does with all our boys, and if he looks ready to make the next step up then he may get his chance. We have shown as a Club on a regular basis that we are prepared to give youngsters an opportunity at Everton.”

A statement from the PFCC explained: “In setting this compensation fee, the PFCC took into account the costs of training and development, the player’s age and playing record, the length of time he was registered with his former club, the terms offered by both clubs, the status of the two clubs, previous committee decisions and the interest shown by other clubs in acquiring the registration of the player.”

evertonfc.com- John Heitinga will become Everton’s fourth signing of the summer after a deal was finalised to bring the Dutch international to Goodison Park.

Everton and Atletico Madrid agreed a £6m transfer fee, which could rise to £7m, for the 25-year old defender late last week whilst personal terms were tied up over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Heitinga has signed a five year deal after passing a medical examination and brings experience of playing at the highest level to Merseyside when he arrives back at Everton after the international break.

Blues boss David Moyes told evertonfc.com he was delighted to have Heitinga on board.

“We are really pleased to have him with us,” said Moyes. “He is an experienced and versatile player who can hopefully fill a number of different positions in the team. I am sure he will be an exciting signing for us.”

Heitinga arrives in the Premier League as one of Holland’s most experienced defenders, racking up nearly 50 caps and occasionally captaining his country. He can play at both his preferred central-defensive role and at right-back, having fulfilled both positions successfully for his country.

A graduate of Ajax’s famous academy, he made his senior debut at 17 and went on to establish himself as a regular for the Amsterdam side, spending five years playing alongside Steven Pienaar before the South African left for Borussia Dortmund.

During his time in Holland, Heitinga won the Eredivisie twice and the KNVB Cup – the Dutch equivalent of the FA Cup – three times.

He was voted Holland’s player of the year in 2008 and went on to join Atletico from Ajax that summer for a fee of €10m.

Anyone who has checked the last in the last week will have noticed a lack of content. I’ve been away on holiday, but Merseyside Troopers is back and ready to start covering Everton again, COYB!

It’s been a fraught couple of weeks at Goodison Park and, after finally agreeing to sell Joleon Lescott, Everton will undoubtedly be glad to get back to footballing matters.

Two Premier League defeats mean David Moyes’ side are currently propping up the table, and the distraction of a Europa League tie may prove a welcome tonic.

Of course, the Toffees are in a formidable position going into the second leg of their play-off with Sigma Olomouc.

A 4-0 win at Goodison Park, courtesy of goals by Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell, means they are odds on to reach the next round.

Despite the huge advantage, however, Moyes will counsel caution from his men, who may be lacking in confidence following defeat to newly-promoted Burnley at the weekend.

Sigma also proved in the first leg that they do have the players to trouble the Toffees, and had a couple of early penalty shouts gone in their favour, it could have been a very different result indeed.

Tim Howard brought down Jakub Petr early on but escaped conceding a spot kick and the goalkeeper was also called into action shortly afterwards, saving a fierce shot from Michael Ordos.

All of this should serve as a warning to the Merseysiders that, despite their huge lead, this is not a tie that should be taken for granted.

FORM GUIDE

Last Five Results

Everton

Aug 23: Burnley 1-0 Everton
Aug 20: Everton 4-0 Sigma Olomouc
Aug 15: Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Aug 7: Everton 2-1 Malaga
Aug 4: Blackpool 2-1 Everton

Sigma Olomouc

Aug 23: FK Pibram 2-1 Sigma
Aug 20: Everton 4-0 Sigma
Aug 16 Sigma 1-1 Bohemians
Aug 9 Slovacko 2-0 Sigma
Aug 6 Sigma 3-0 Aberdeen

TEAM NEWS

Sigma Olomouc

Possible Starting XI: Drobisz, Dreksa, Kascak, Onofrej, Ordos, Rossi, Otepka, Hubnik, Skerle, Horava, Petr

Everton

New signing Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is ineligible but Yakubu is a welcome inclusion in the squad after a scoring return for the reserves earlier this week.

Possible Starting XI: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Neville, Baines, Osman, Rodwell, Pienaar, Cahill, Fellaini, Saha

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sigma Olomouc

Striker Jakub Petr was a little unlucky not to win a penalty at Goodison after being felled by Tim Howard and he will be hoping to cause the Everton stopper problems again.

Everton

Louis Saha netted twice in the first leg and after missing a crucial penalty against Burnley last time out will be keen to make amends.

The Frenchmen will also be aware that Yakubu is nearing fitness, which could prove added motivation, if any were needed.

PREDICTION

An emphatic first leg win should be enough to see the Toffees through, although any lapses in concentration will surely be punished by the Czechs.

Having lost both opening league fixtures, a response is required and a professional performance should see them through.

Sigma Olomouc 1-1 Everton

evertonfc.com- Everton have signed Russian international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov from Lokomotiv Moscow for an undisclosed fee.

Blues officials met with the player and his representatives in Hamburg on Monday (due to the fact he is permitted to enter Germany with a Russian passport without a visa) where the midfielder signed a five year contract that will keep him on Merseyside until 2014.

The 24-year-old, who is an established international with 28 caps, will now return to Russia to complete the formalities of a visa application to enter the UK.

Unfortunately for the Blues, the player will be ineligible for Thursday’s Europa League play-off 2nd leg with Sigma Olomouc due to the Uefa registration deadline passing – and it remains unlikely that he will have arrived on Merseyside in time to prepare for the weekend’s Premier League clash with Wigan.

He is due in the UK in early September for Russia’s World Cup qualifier with Wales and the likelihood is that he will join up with his new teammates for the first time ahead of the trip to Fulham the following weekend.

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Diniyar,” said Everton chief executive Robert Elstone.

“I know David Moyes has wanted to bring him to Goodison for some time and we look forward to welcoming him.”

Bilyaletdinov broke into Lokomotiv’s first team in 2004, quickly forging a reputation for his direct running style as well as displaying the leadership skills which would later be rewarded with the captain’s armband.

The tall left-footer helped Lokomotiv to only their second Russian title in his debut season, earning the League’s Young Player of the Year accolade in the process.

Bilyaletdinov is a regular for the Russian national team after making his debut aged 20. He featured in every game of their memorable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, where they lost to eventual winners Spain.

Before that he played in 10 of Russia’s 12 qualifying matches for the tournament, including two games against England.

Dinyar’s father, Rinat, was also a professional player with Lokomotiv Moscow and is now the club’s reserve-team coach.

The Nigerian striker will line-up against Burnley’s second string after recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in November last year.

He has been gradually stepping up his rehabilitation all summer and is now ready for competitive action.

The Yak is joined in a strong Toffees side for the opening game of the campaign by the likes of Iain Turner, Dan Gosling and Jose Baxter, all of whom have senior experience.

New arrival Shkodran Mustafi will also feature, joining Moses Barnett, Shane Duffy and James McCarten in defence.

Lukas Jutkiewicz, James Wallace and Hope Akpan, reserve-team regulars from last term, are also included.

American duo Anton Peterlin and Cody Arnoux are also in the squad along with Kieran Agard, Adam Forshaw and teenage keeper Connor Roberts.

The game against the Clarets kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes.

Goal.com- The Toffees are reportedly targeting Russian international midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov…

Everton are hoping to bring Lokomotiv Moscow ace Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to the club in a bid to improve their squad before the end of the current transfer window.

Manager David Moyes has been desperate to bolster his ranks throughout the summer, and with the imminent departure of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City, the need to strengthen has become especially significant.

The Toffees have begun the new Premier League season in disappointing fashion, having been demolished 6-1 by Arsenal on the opening weekend and then losing out 1-0 to newly promoted Burnley on Sunday.

With Everton expected to receive in the region of £22 million for Eastlands-bound Lescott, the Press Association is reporting that Russian international Bilyaletdinov is now Moyes’ primary target.

Reports have even claimed that a delegation associated with the Goodison Park club will fly to Hamburg in the next 24 hours to attempt to complete a deal for the Lokomotiv Moscow winger.

As Bilyaletdinov does not yet possess a UK visa, it is believed that Everton are keen to travel to Germany to allow the Russian, capped 28 times by his country, to complete a medical.

The Merseyside club acquired a work permit for Valencia’s Ever Banega on Friday, and with Moyes looking to add new faces to his side, the likes of Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross and Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos continue to be mooted as potential arrivals.

He's getting what he wished for... what's the old adage about such things?

The Daily Mail- Joleon Lescott has arrived at Manchester City to undergo a medical as the Everton defender looks set to complete his protracted £23m switch to Eastlands.

Having rejected opening bids of £15m and £18m previously for the England international, Everton finally caved into the relentless pressure of City’s millions and accepted a considerably improved offer on Sunday.

The former Wolves centre-back was dropped by manager David Moyes for the club’s 4-0 Europa League win over Sigma Olomouc last Thursday and was missing from Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at newly promoted Burnley, with the Scot citing poor attitude.

Lescott handed in a transfer request which was initially refused at Goodison Park but now the club have reluctantly agree to part ways with Lescott, making a handsome profit of £18m from the £5m they signed him from Molineux in 2006.

The 27-year-old will become Mark Hughes’ sixth big-money summer signing and the City boss has promised there will be more additions to squad players before the window closes for business with former Arsenal and Barcelona full-back Sylvinho agreeing a one-year deal.

This should be a match of two teams coming in with loads of confidence… after thrashing Sigma on Thursday the boys will want to build on that momentum by picking up their first points of the year. Burnely will be equally excited for this fixture after beating the defending champs in their midweek match. Robbie Blake gave the Clarets a dream home debut in the EPL as his stunning volley was enough to see off Man Utd. Those three points are monumental for Burnley as points will be tough to come by for them in the next few weeks. After they host Everton they travel to Stamford Bridge and Anfield. Everton, on the other hand, begin a run of fixtures that should yield points, but a stingy and physical effort will be required to take all three points tomorrow, especially with the crowd expected to be a raucous one at Turf Moor.

Moyes and company will still have redemption on their mind, with the Arsenal match not quite out of their memory yet. The Sigma match was a good start for the boys, but Burnley will provide tougher competition and at a hostile ground. Piennar and Rodwell, two massive influences in the Sigma fixture, are doubts for the match. This will put added pressure on Cahill and Saha to be the attacking inspiration for the squad. Moyes will be keen to sure up the back line, who looked suspect in the opening period of Thursdays match. There has also been talk that Lescott could be added to the lineup for the fixture, although no definite word has come from the club on that matter. If both Piennar and Rodwell do indeed miss the match it will be interesting to see if Moyes might think about putting Jo and Saha up front, though I doubt that Moyes would play a 4-4-2 during an away match. This should be a rough and gritty match, but now let’s look at some of the finer points of the fixture…

Form Guide

Everton:

20 Aug Everton 4-0 Sigma Olomouc

15 Aug Everton 1-6 Arsenal

Burnley:

Aug 19 Burnley 1-0 Man Utd

Aug 15 Stoke 2-0 Burnley

Players to Watch

Everton: All eyes are going to be on Louis Saha after a fantastic performance against Sigma on Thursday. Saha turned in the type of performance that should guarantee him a place in the starting XI for the coming matches. Always lively and full of dangerous runs, he should cause trouble for Burnley defenders. I also look for Cahill to return to form, as he has lacked his usual effectiveness so far this season.

Burnley: Many will focus on the hero of the United match, Robbie Blake, but I will be watching Brian “The Beast” Jensen and Martin Paterson. Jensen was vital in goal for the Clarets (just ask Michael Carrick), and his strong presence will be needed against a revitalized Everton attack. While Paterson didn’t score against United the striker created havoc among the Red Devil’s back line, as he chased down every ball and put tremendous pressure on the defenders. Everton looked a little shaky at the back in the initial twenty minutes of Thursdays game, so expect Paterson to keep up the pressure at Turf Moor tomorrow.

The Bold Prediction

Everton win 2-1

Burnley will be more than up for this match after defeating United earlier in the week, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see us concede an early goal. As the match goes on I expect us to wear them down and for our superior quality to show through. The formation Moyes employs is better suited for away fixtures and although any away matches in the Prem are difficult, I see us picking up a scrappy three points. Expect a physical and sometimes ugly style of play, but a victory in the end. COYB!

Having secured a work permit for midfielder Ever Benega – who has signed from Valencia – Everton manager David Moyes is now planning a swoop for Spartak Moscow winger Vladimir Bystrov, according to the Daily Mail.

The issue of Banega’s work permit application was a concern to the Toffees, because the Argentinian has not played in 75 per cent of the Albiceleste’s international matches over the last two years, usually a key criterion for the granting of a permit to non-EU nationals.

Banega has so far won only three caps for his country, but the Mail in its online edition reports that Manchester sports lawyer Chris Farnell successfully argued for the work permit to be approved during a hearing at Premier League headquarters.

Nevertheless, the signing of Banega is considered something of a gamble by some observers, who feel the fact that the player struggled to settle in Spain after his £15 million transfer from Boca Juniors 18 months ago is not a good omen or Everton. Moyes clearly disagrees.

Banega has moved to Goodison Park on a season-long loan, the Toffees having the option of making the deal permanent next year.

And with that deal in the bag, Moyes is now said to be hoping to finalise the £9m transfer of Vladimir Bystrov.

The flying Russian winger could be one of several more new faces arriving at Goodison before the transfer deadline, reckons the Liverpool Echo, which adds that Bystrov, 25 years old and capped 24 times by Russia, is regarded as one of the quickest players in Europe.

The Echo feels that Bystrov’s “imminent” arrival will give Everton’s attack “an exciting new dimension”.

The newspaper adds that talks are at an advanced stage with Spartak, and that Everton officials are confident terms will be agreed and the deal wrapped up before the Merseysiders take on Burnley on Sunday.