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EVERTON are facing a race against time to raise the funds to land their prime summer target, Charles N’Zogbia.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan confirmed last night that the French winger would be leaving the club this summer.

“We have to sell Charles N’Zogbia because he’s on the last year of his contract,” he explained.

“We can’t keep him if a big club comes for him and he does deserve a big club because he’s that kind of quality player.

“We would love to keep him and pay him what he wants to stay with us but it’s a very difficult situation.

“He’s such a great player and we are such a small club sometimes we don’t go together.”

Everton manager David Moyes is keen to land the wide player, who would also be open to a Goodison switch.

But Everton cannot make a firm bid for a player valued at around £8m until they have banked transfer fees for Nigerian internationals Joseph Yobo and Yakubu.

And while Fenerbahce haggle over a fee for Yobo and no club has made a firm bid for Yakubu, other clubs are eyeing N’Zogbia with interest.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said he had received three enquiries last week.

Aston Villa are likely to be one, with N’Zogbia a natural replacement for Stewart Downing, who is wanted by both Liverpool and now Arsenal.

And if Liverpool out on Downing they may also switch their attentions to N’Zogbia.

Everton look increasingly likely to kick off their pre-season friendly fixtures on Friday at Bury with no new faces in the squad.

Skipper Phil Neville, however, has described the pre-season schedule so far as the best since he became a Everton player in 2005.