Fabrizio Ravanelli arrived on Merseyside yesterday clutching a list of personal demands which may yet scupper his proposed move to Everton. After much soul-searching and no little arm-twisting by his posse of financial advisers, the Italian international striker finally agreed to return to England to listen to what Everton have to offer.

Last week, after his present club Middlesbrough had accepted an offer of £7.5 million, Ravanelli insisted he had no great desire to move to Goodison Park.

However, once it was pointed out to him that Everton were the only club with sufficient cash in the bank and sufficient belief in his abilities to actually lodge a meaningful bid, Ravanelli agreed to open preliminary negotiations. Yesterday, Ravanelli entered into talks with the Everton manager Howard Kendall. Having spent the past 12 months picking up around £28,000 a week on Teesside, he is now believed to be seeking a four-year contract worth £2 million per season - or in excess of £40,000 a week.

With club chairman Peter Johnson not involved in yesterday's talks, nothing is yet decided. If Johnson does decide to veto the deal, Everton will make a third attempt to prise Les Ferdinand away from Newcastle United who have already rebuffed two enquiries about the player. Meanwhile, Liverpool are confident Paul Ince will have completed his move from Inter Milan by the start of next week at the latest. The England midfielder has already undergone a medical at Anfield and the two clubs are finalising details.