SO, Darren Fletcher is the latest player to be measured up to see if he fits the warm indentation left in the Everton midfield settee by the departure of Lee Carsley.

Rumour has it that Goodison chiefs have actually produced a prospectus that they distribute to Manchester United squad players every summer.

The magazine and accompanying DVD have the catchy strapline, ‘Everton – no need to move house’.

Granted, Fletcher, if indeed there’s any truth to the stories that David Moyes is ready to offer £4million for him, isn’t the most exotic player we’ve been linked with this summer, but it’s not difficult to see why the Everton manager might like the look of him.

For a start, any player who leaves Old Trafford for Goodison while the Red Devils are at the top of the game and Everton are some way off winning regular silverware is coming because they want to play regular first-team football.

That’s why Tim Howard and Phil Neville moved down the East Lancs and Moyes has obviously been impressed with the desire and the professionalism that both have brought to Merseyside. It’s far from inconceivable then that he envisages Fletcher adding more of the same.

Andy Johnson has always shown a first-class attitude as well but it’s looking increasingly likely that Moyes is willing to sacrifice the club’s second most expensive signing in order to raise more funds and help to reshape the side.

Johnson struggled last season due largely to injuries but also because of the change in team pattern that came about once Ayegbeni Yakubu was purchased from Middlesbrough.

All of a sudden Johnson was no longer the focal point of side and his role started to become unclear.