Everton waiting on Shaun Wright-Phillips

Aug 27 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

shaun wright phillips

EVERTON will discover in the next few days whether they have been successful in luring Shaun Wright-Phillips to Goodison.

The winger is expected to leave Chelsea before the transfer window closes on Monday after accepting he is not part of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s long-term plans at Stamford Bridge.

And Wright-Phillips is facing a straight choice between either Everton or former club Manchester City.

Goodison officials have been in contact with Chelsea over the possibility of taking Wright-Phillips on a year-long loan with a view to a permanent move, while City have made an offer believed to be in the region of £9m for the 26-year-old.

Wright-Phillips is expected to make a decision by the end of the week having conceded he must find a new club to improve his chances of first-team football, with his opportunities at Chelsea set to be lessened further by the arrival of Real Madrid’s Robinho.

Everton manager David Moyes is intensifying his recruitment drive and is still intent on bolstering his numbers by “six or seven” before next week.

The first of those is Lars Jacobsen, after the Denmark international right-back completed his free transfer from FC Nuremberg yesterday.

The 28-year-old underwent a medical at Finch Farm yesterday after agreeing personal terms on a one-year contract. Jacobsen, who will wear the number 15 shirt, is eligible to play against Portsmouth on Saturday, subject to Everton receiving his registration from the German FA.

Moyes remains confident of signing Cameroon international midfielder Stephane M’bia from French side Rennes and is also focusing energies on augmenting his forward line.

Everton’s obvious need for reinforcements means they continue to be linked with a host of other names, the latest of which is Feyenoord midfielder Jonathan de Guzman.

Reports in Holland have stated Feyenoord are considering cashing in on Canadian-born 20-year-old, and have named Everton among the front-runners.

De Guzman, a Holland under-21 international, admitted a move to the Premier League could be a possibility.

“I am certainly open to possible interest from that corner and from what I have heard lately, Feyenoord are happy to hear from them as well,” he said.