Andrew Johnson will only go if £10m offered

In any case, David Moyes will not allow Johnson to depart until a replacement striker has been lined up, with the Goodison manager's determination not to be left short up front heightened by Tim Cahill joining Olympics-bound Victor Anichebe in missing the start of the season.

Cahill travels to Australia today to visit the specialist who successfully operated on his troublesome metatarsal earlier in the summer.

While the 28-year-old's rehabilitation remains on track, Everton are taking no chances with his recovery.

The specialist is expected to give Cahill the green light to start light jogging again, but Goodison manager Moyes has already ruled him out of the opening Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers next month.

However, Mikel Arteta has made good progress after the summer surgery to rectify his long-standing groin and abdominal problems and could even make an appearance when Everton travel to Cambridge United for their second pre-season friendly tomorrow afternoon.

"Mikel is training with us again and that is a boost," said Moyes.

"We are pleased with the progress that he has made and there is an outside chance that he will be involved when we play Cambridge.

"James Vaughan is coming on all the time but it is a slow process with him. It is the same for Tim Cahill and I am not expecting him to be fit for the start of the season.

"He is going over to Australia to see the specialist for a last check but it is so far, so good."

Meanwhile, young goalkeeper John Ruddy is happy to become a loan ranger once again in pursuit of first-team experience.

The 21-year-old has made seven short-term moves since joining Everton in 2005, most recently at Coca-Cola League Two play-off winners Stockport County.

Now Ruddy aims to take a further step in his career by exposure to life in the Championship.

"I know what to expect from League Two having played a season in there," said Ruddy.

"I've had a couple of decent loan spells at that level too and now I will just look to push on and hopefully get a Championship or League One club this season."

With Tim Howard yet to begin pre-season training and Iain Turner having played the full 90 minutes in goal last week against FC Sion, tomorrow's friendly at Cambridge is likely to see Ruddy face the club he left to join Everton.

REPORTS in Portugal suggest that Sporting Lisbon's Serbia international goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic is believed to have been released early from a week-long trial at Everton.

It is thought the Serbian was unhappy at having to go on trial in the first place.