Everton FC News: Everton want striker Jo on loan - again

Jul 1 2009 by James Pearce, Daily Post

Everton FC News: EVERTON are negotiating with Manchester City to keep Brazilian striker Jo for a season-long loan.

And the Blues hope to reach an agreement without Joleon Lescotts name being brought into discussions.

England defender Lescott has been touted all summer as a potential City target.

But while Everton have not received an official enquiry yet, they are hoping to persuade Mark Hughes to release Jo on loan.

David Moyes wants to keep the Brazilian striker after a promising spell in the second half of last season.

But he is also keen to keep hold of Lescott.

Jo cost Manchester City £18m last summer, but was shoved onto the fringes of Hughes squad, before being allowed to spend the last four months of the season at Goodison.

After an unsuccessful spell at Eastlands, he scored two goals on his Everton debut and went on to register five goals in 11 appearances.

Everton cannot afford to match the £18m City paid CSKA Moscow, but with Hughes already having captured Roque Santa Cruz and trying desperately to land Carlos Tevez from neighbours United and Samuel Etoo from Barcelona, the Brazilian will slip even further down the pecking order.

Phil Jagielka has revealed his frustration at the long recovery from his cruciate knee injury. But the centre-back is looking forward to pre-season training next week  so he finally has some company at Finch Farm.

Everything is on schedule, said Jagielka. Its a long process which is starting to get to me a little bit. The rest of the boys will be back in soon and they will have a bit of banter to keep me going for another month or two.