David Moyes says Everton can’t afford Landon Donovan at MLS valuation

• Moyes admits he would like to re-sign US forward Donovan
• ‘He looks too expensive for us … We don’t have the finances’

David Moyes has admitted that he is unlikely to bring Landon Donovan back to Everton in the near future because the club cannot afford him.

Donovan impressed on loan at Everton last season and the 28-year-old recently said that he was keen on a return to the club. But Moyes has played down the chances of the £10m-rated USA forward signing on a permanent basis from LA Galaxy.

“We’d love to have Landon but he looks too expensive for us and we just don’t have it,” the Everton manager said. “We don’t have the finances. The price the MLS want for him is very big and it’s an additional problem because of his age.

“All we’ve done is spend £1m on [new signing] Magaye Gueye so far. Jermaine Beckford and Jan Mucha were free, so we’ve spent no money by Premier League standards and will probably be the ones who spend the least this season.”

Donovan, who scored twice in 13 appearances for Everton between January and March, has also been linked with a move to Manchester City.

EvertonTransfer windowAlan Gardnerguardian.co.uk

Jack Rodwell and Louis Saha on target as Everton beat Melbourne Heart

• Everton record second win on tour of Australia
• Louis Saha misses early penalty in 2-0 win

Everton continued their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 2-0 friendly win over the Australian side Melbourne Heart.

Jack Rodwell and Louis Saha were both on target as Everton won for the second time on their tour following their weekend defeat of Sydney FC.

Saha fired an early penalty wide before Rodwell turned home a Seamus Coleman cross after 34 minutes.

The Frenchman made amends for his miss by making the result safe on the hour with a strike from the edge of the box.

The Everton manager David Moyes handed debuts to the forwards Jermaine Beckford and Joao Silva while the Australia World Cup midfielder Tim Cahill played his last game before beginning a belated summer break.

Evertonguardian.co.uk

Dan Gosling seems set to join Newcastle United on free transfer

• Midfielder holds talks with officials at St James’ Park
• Everton appealing against tribunal ruling on £4m-rated player

Dan Gosling appears bound for Newcastle United after holding productive talks with officials from St James’ Park but no transfer is likely to be announced until his current club, Everton, have appealed against a Premier League tribunal ruling concerning the 20-year-old midfielder.

An administrative oversight on Everton’s part – who neglected to put a verbal contract offer to Gosling in writing in May – means the Merseysiders are poised to lose a player valued at around £4m on a free transfer.

That was the verdict of a Premier League tribunal which ruled Gosling could leave Everton for nothing but the Goodison Park club are expected to lodge an appeal and, should they succeed, would be entitled to compensation.

Gosling, who will miss the first three months of the new season due to a knee injury, has attracted interest from Bolton, Sunderland and West Ham but is understood to have agreed to join Newcastle.

The versatile midfielder earned £8,000 a week last season but Everton’s failure to put their verbal offer of an improved £15,000 a week deal in writing before 30 May made Gosling an attractive commodity.

Plymouth, Gosling’s first club, are almost as dismayed as Everton having been due a sell-on fee in the event of any future transfer.

Newcastle UnitedEvertonTransfer windowLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk