Nigeria’s Victor Moses could be a surprise first target for new Everton boss Roberto Martinez Mirror Football reports. The Goodison new chief believes his former Wigan striker – sold to Chelsea for £9m – may be up for grabs with the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
With Romelu Lukaku heading back to Chelsea after an eye-catching loan year at West Brom, Moses could be squeezed out despite playing a role last season. Moses played under Martinez at Wigan and the new Toffees boss is keen to get reacquainted with the 22 year-old Nigerian who has enjoyed a flying year with Chelsea and Nigeria.
Close watchers of the transfer market and the English Premier League suggest that Moses may find himself slipping further and further down the pecking order behind the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Brazilian Oscar.
With Mourinho back in the Chelsea hot seat, the Nigerian international could find a regular starting place even harder to hold down; and Moses may think his best bet is to seek pastures new and linking back up with his old mentor hard to resist.
It is also believed that a fee of around £10m may be enough to secure a deal for Moses if he is keen to move. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is believed to have told Mourinho that there will be less money on the table this time around and the Portuguese may be forced to offload a number of fringe players to fund his own transfer targets.
Martinez has also hinted he could go back to raid his old club Wigan, with midfielders James McCarthy, former Evertonian Callum McManaman, James McArthur, Spanish defender Ivan Ramis, and striker Aroune Kone all possible targets.
Martinez revealed there is no deal in place with Whelan to prevent him returning to poach Latics players.
Martinez said, “No, the chairman has been very straightforward and clear with that. He understands that there will be players leaving not just to Everton but they will be leaving because the Premier League is where they want to be. But nobody will go on the cheap; nobody will be leaving because they want to leave. Everyone in football has a price.
“He understands that any team can lose players when a club gets relegated, not just Wigan.”