EVERTON’S young England defender Eric Dier has returned to Sporting Lisbon for a better chance of regular first team football.

The 18-year-old moved to Everton on loan in January 2011 and extended the loan for the whole of last season.

He made 12 reserve appearances but didn’t feature in a first team squad and boss David Moyes said: “We wanted him to stay with us. We knew he wanted to be in the first team, even though there would be little chance. Maybe Ricardo Sa Pinto (the Sporting coach) and Sporting have other plans for him.”

Dier moved to Portugal from England when he was seven and caught the attention of the Sporting scouts.

He signed professional terms with the Lisbon club in 2010.

Eligible to represent Portugal and England, he opted for England and won caps at Under-18 and Under-19 level.

But he failed to break into the senior set up at Everton and believes a switch back to Portugal offers him a greater chance of first team football.

Everton striking target Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, meanwhile, has agreed a deal to sign for Wolves, subject to agreeing terms and coming through a medical.

The Iceland international is expected to pen a four-year contract at Molineux after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Lillestrom.

The 21-year-old is committed to playing in the Norwegian Premier League outfit’s next three games before arriving on July 13 to become Stale Solbakken’s first signing.

“I am very pleased that an agreement has been reached for us to sign Björn,” said Solbakken in a club statement.

“He is an exciting young prospect who has the quality to help us achieve our aims both in the short and long term.

“We look forward to the deal being completed next month, after which Björn will be able to join us as we prepare for the new season.”

Wolves CEO Jez Moxey added: “Negotiations have been slightly more complex than usual due to the Norwegian League being half-way through the season, but as a result of extensive discussions we now have an agreement.

Sigurdarson, the half-brother of former Wolves midfielder Joey Gudjonsson, has been in impressive form for Lillestrom this term, netting seven goals in 11 appearances.

Everton watched the Icelandic striker several times and were believed to be keen on taking him to Goodison this summer.