EVERTON were left bemused last night when West Ham United made a fresh bid for Yakubu – for less than their rejected initial offer.

The Hammers have been tracking the Nigeria international all summer having seen a £6million bid dismissed by the Goodison outfit six weeks ago.

However, the Londoners returned yesterday with a new offer of £5m to sign the 27-year-old.

And an astonished Everton have slammed the approach as derisory, particularly given manager David Moyes’ insistence this week that he has no intention of letting players leave on the cheap.

Having seen Mikel Arteta agree a five-year contract earlier this week, Everton manager Moyes said it sent out a message Everton were no longer a selling club and didn’t need to part with any of their players.

But new West Ham manager Avram Grant is keen to bolster his strikeforce with Yakubu, having worked with the forward when in charge at Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.

The Londoners are now prepared to try their luck again but will be rebuffed unless they improve their bid, with Moyes looking to recoup most of the £11.25m fee paid to Middlesbrough to sign Yakubu three years ago.

Yakubu has been restricted during pre-season to a brief substitute appearance against Wolfsburg on Saturday following his World Cup exertions with Nigeria. And with the summer arrival of Jermaine Beckford on a free transfer from Leeds United, the striker faces increased competition for a starting role.

Another Everton player whose future remains the subject of speculation is Steven Pienaar, with talks over a new deal having been on hold since before the World Cup.

Although an offer has been on the table for some months, representatives of Pienaar yesterday claimed frustration in the player’s camp at the current impasse.

That feeling was apparently heightened with the news Everton have negotiated a lucrative new deal for Mikel Arteta, who still had almost two years remaining on his contract.

By contrast, Pienaar has now entered the final 12 months of his present contract and, should the status quo persist, would be able to talk to foreign clubs in the New Year with a view to a free transfer next summer.

And the South African’s business manager Rob Moore said: “It is great news for the club that they have secured Arteta for the next five years, and it shows that they are able to move quickly when they want to.

“But in the case of Pienaar it is surprising that he is the player with the least amount of time remaining on his contract, yet the last to be tied up with a new deal.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Does this mean Everton actually want to sell him’?

“But there is nothing we can do about it.”

Moore added: “Obviously if he does not sign a new deal before the end of the transfer window on August 31 then the chances of him doing so are greatly reduced because he will be in the last year of his current deal and able to start negotiating with other clubs in January.

“He would be a very attractive proposition for them on a free at the end of the season. But the player has never said that he wants to leave and he is not the kind of person who goes knocking on the manager’s door halfway through a contract demanding more money and revised terms.

“That is why it is frustrating that it is taking so long to sort it out now.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding two of his players, Moyes believes Everton are much better equipped for the new season in comparison to last season, when the Joleon Lescott saga and a raft of injuries prompted a 6-1 opening-day home defeat to Arsenal.

“We are much better prepared than we were last season because we have roughly got a settled squad of players and no major injuries,” said the manager.

“Obviously, the World Cup has had an impact but that has been the same for many other teams.

“Overall I’ve been pleased with where we are at.

“We do have a bit to go with what I want us to do, but I’m relatively happy.

“I’ve got a more or less full squad to choose from and that puts me in a strong position.”

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello witnessed a man of the match performance from Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell as England Under-21s overcame their Uzbekistan counterparts in a one-sided friendly at Ashton Gate.

Liverpool’s Martin Kelly wrapped up the victory when he headed in a centre from Kyle Walker in the 78th minute, to add to Danny Rose’s opener.

Manager Stuart Pearce said: “Would Capello be happy with that?

“There was some great play.”