Everton v TottenhamTottenham Hotspur appear to have finally succeeded in persuading Alan Hutton to swap Rangers for White Hart Lane and hope to complete the full back's protracted transfer today in a deal that could ultimately cost them €13.5 million.
Hutton will sign a deal worth €45,000 a week, significantly more than that initially offered by Spurs three weeks ago, which runs until the summer of 2012 and he has received a pay-off in the region of €1.3 million from Rangers.
Should the €2.7 million in add-ons be activated, he would effectively become the most expensive Scottish player in history, eclipsing Sunderland's €12 million purchase of Craig Gordon last summer.
Hutton's arrival follows Jonathan Woodgate's move - the centre half is in the squad to face Everton this evening and is likely to play, with Michael Dawson suspended - and it could be followed by that of the Brazilian full-back Gilberto from Hertha Berlin.
The 31-year-old, who is out of contract at the Bundesliga club at the end of the season, was undertaking a medical yesterday.
David Moyes has insisted he has no concerns over Joleon Lescott's long-term future at Everton, despite ongoing attempts to extend the England international's contract.Moyes is without the suspended Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert tonight, and also faces the prospect of losing the influential Australian for a World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Melbourne next week.
"I'm sure Tim would like to go and play but he wouldn't be playing against Tottenham even if he wasn't banned because of a hamstring problem, and he'd be a doubt for the next couple of weeks," Moyes said.
"It's ridiculous that there's a game in the middle of two Premier League matches."
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