EVERTON winger Andrei Kanchelskis will join Italian side Fiorentina in an £8 million deal today.

Everton manager Joe Royle has decided the time is right to cash in on the Russian international and, with Kanchelskis having already agreed personal terms with the Serie A club, the move will be finalised today.

Royle said: "We've agreed terms with Fiorentina. I felt that Andrei's not been right in his mind for us this season. He became unsettled and it was inevitable in the end that he moved on. It's sad to see him go and I thank him for last season.

The Ukrainian born forward scored 16 goals then which made him Everton's leading scorer. It is that form which has made him a Fiorentina target.

Managing director Luciano Luna said, on Monday night we made a substantial offer to Everton. We hope to wrap everything up by January 30th. We've already agreed terms with Kanchelskis over salary and the length of the contract." The package is believed to be £2.5 million for a four year deal, plus bonuses.