• Dan Gosling finalises controversial Newcastle deal
• Midfielder will miss remainder of 2010 with knee injury

Dan Gosling has completed his move to Newcastle United from Everton but will not be able to make his debut for several months because he is recovering from a serious knee injury.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who underwent anterior cruciate ligament surgery in March which was then expected to keep him out until December, signed a four-year contract on Tyneside after arriving on a free transfer which has caused considerable consternation at Goodison Park.

Everton were infuriated by Gosling’s exploitation of a legal loophole which enabled a player who cost them £2m when he joined from Plymouth Argyle in January 2008 to depart for nothing.

Chris Hughton, though, was thrilled to have recruited precisely the type of player Mike Ashley, Newcastle’s owner, is seeking – young, energetic and with real potential for future resale. “We are delighted to have signed Dan,” Newcastle’s manager said. “He’s the right age and profile so he’s an appealing capture for us. He’s young but he has Premier League experience and he’s someone who can continue to develop his game. We see him as a high-energy box-to-box player. He won’t be fazed by anything that’s in front of him.”

Gosling was equally enthusiastic. “It’s a brilliant move for me,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started. I’ve played at St James’ Park and I know all about the amazing atmosphere. It will be a great day when I finally get to run out in front of 50,000 people.”

Things have changed rapidly since early May when Gosling said of Everton: “There’s no other club I’d rather be at.” Indeed Everton feel badly let down by a player whose salary they intended to double despite his almost certainly being sidelined for most of the remainder of 2010.

Gosling had been recruited by David Moyes on a three-year deal with an agreement to extend it on improved terms this summer. Last spring Everton duly offered him a two-year extension which would have lifted his weekly wage from £8,000 to around £16,000 but Goodison Park officials failed to put this revised offer in writing by the mid-May deadline, thereby permitting the midfielder to leave on a free.

His relocation to Newcastle was agreed two weeks ago but was not finalised while Everton debated appealing to the Premier League for compensation after losing him on what they regard as a harsh technicality which enabled Gosling to negotiate a lucrative signing-on fee at St James’ Park. The move has also not gone down well at Plymouth, who would have been entitled to a percentage of any sum Everton made from a future sale.

Gosling, who can play at right-back as well as in midfield, made 22 Premier League appearances for Everton, 13 as a substitute, scoring four goals.

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• Steven Pienaar unlikely to seal new deal before World Cup
• Everton anxious to keep South Africa midfielder

Steven Pienaar’s agent has reiterated that Everton risk losing the South Africa midfielder if they do not complete negotiations over a new deal before the World Cup finals.

The 28-year-old midfielder was voted Everton’s player of the season and the manager, David Moyes, has said he does not believe it is in Pienaar’s best interests to leave Goodison Park.

However, Ivan Modia told Sky Sports News: “At the moment it is unlikely that we can find a solution before the World Cup. He is very loyal to the club and it is up to what Everton want to do.

“To be honest he is really looking forward and hopes they can agree before the World Cup. If nothing happens before the World Cup with Everton, we may have to consider other options. I am aware of the interest of some big clubs.”

Despite Modia’s views Everton have said discussions with Pienaar, who has one year remaining on his contract, are not likely to take place until mid-July, after the World Cup has finished.

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• Move scuppers hopes of Manchester United and Arsenal
• Teenager’s signature is a boost for manager David Moyes

The highly rated Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell will today sign a new five-year contract at Goodison Park to scupper any lingering hopes Manchester United and Arsenal retained of securing the talented teenager this summer.

The 19-year-old, an England Under-21 international, played 36 times for David Moyes’ side last season having progressed through the youth ranks at the club. Negotiations over the new deal have been protracted and the contract is worth around £30,000 a week, reflecting his value in the squad, with Rodwell following Tim Cahill and the young full-back Seamus Coleman, on loan at Blackpool, in extending their stays on Merseyside.

United had hoped to lure Rodwell away from Everton as they did the 18-year-old Wayne Rooney back in 2004, with Arsène Wenger also a keen admirer of a player comfortable both in central defence and midfield, but Moyes has managed to persuade the teenager that he will benefit more from regular first-team football at the club. He has already played more than 50 games for Everton and scored his first senior goal as a 17-year-old, and his manager has compared his development to that of the new England captain, Rio Ferdinand.

“He’s so comfortable on the ball,” said Moyes. “He is best in central midfield at the moment but, by the time he’s 23 or 24, he may be a top centre-half. Rio started in central midfield and eventually moved back. Jack has similar qualities.”

The Everton manager will be reassured at retaining a player around whom this club can shape its future. Everton are expected to open contract talks with Leighton Baines, most likely after the World Cup should the left-back be retained in Fabio Capello’s squad for the finals, and are confident of warding off interest from rivals in their Spanish midfielder, Mikel Arteta.

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