DAVID MOYES is attempting to pull off a major transfer coup by signing Valencia midfielder Ever Banega.

The Everton manager claimed yesterday that he was close to bolstering his squad with the capture of two new players “inside the next 48 hours”.

And one of those is 21-year-old Argentina international Banega, who Everton hope to bring in on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.

Banega, a defensive midfielder, cost Valencia around £15million when he joined from Boca Juniors in January 2008 but off-field controversy meant he soon fell out of favour at the Mestalla.

The player spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid but was sent off twice in 24 league games, and on his return to Valencia announced he wanted to leave.

Despite his trouble settling in Spain, Banega is highly rated and was part of the Argentina squad that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He has also won two caps for the full international team.

Moyes remains in the market for another centre-back, but his interest in Philippe Senderos has cooled with Everton unable to agree a fee with Arsenal for the Switzerland international.

“I have got a situation where I have not got an abundance of centre-halves,” said the Goodison manager. “But there are several clubs looking for them.

“It’s probably one of the positions this year when there has been a lack of players available to buy. If they have been available, the prices have been extremely high.”