THE Toffees come back from the United States after the usual sort of results as we invariably won narrowly against weaker opposition and got beat by some wily South Americans, in this case River Plate.

As ever though, money talks, and the television schedules are already filling up with hyped-up tournaments in far flung corners of the world to ensure their brand gets maximum exposure in emerging markets.

Apart from one rather dismal tour of Thailand, David Moyes’s Everton have stuck to the US, where new signings famously have to endure torture by karaoke. Presumably the squad played bingo or crazy golf instead on this trip, seeing as we are still waiting for the first addition to the squad.

It doesn’t appear as if the Toffees are even being linked to anyone, since the Kyle Naughton deal fell through. Presumably there are moves being made behind the scenes, but the closer we get to the start of the season, the stronger the suspicion becomes that any new signings are dependant on getting money in first. And that means selling Joleon Lescott to Manchester City.

We keep rejecting bids, and Lescott has yet to submit a transfer request, but the whole thing feels like a tiresome game of cat and mouse.

It will certainly be remarkable if Everton do continue to resist the offers from Eastlands, given Arsenal, who are in the Champions League, were unable to keep Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure. The scenario has the feel of the Wayne Rooney situation about it, with so many people benefiting financially that it almost became unstoppable.

Hopefully this situation is resolved quicker than that was, so that if Lescott does depart, Moyes at least has time to put the money to good use.