Recently by Ian Doyle

DENMARK international Lars Jacobsen revealed he "couldn't say no" to Everton after agreeing a free transfer to Goodison.

The 28-year-old right-back is set to spark a glut of new arrivals by becoming David Moyes's first signing of the summer.

Jacobsen has been at Everton's Finch Farm training ground and will sign a one-year contract subject to completing a medical examination this morning.

The defender became a free agent after negotiating his release from Nuremberg following their relegation from the German Bundesliga, and has since been training with FC Copenhagen to maintain his fitness.

FRUSTRATED David Moyes fears he may have to downgrade his transfer targets as he faces a race against time to bolster his Everton squad.

And the Goodison manager has warned his team will struggle to compete in the Premier League if they do not strengthen in the next 10 days.

Everton travel to promoted West Bromwich Albion today having not yet signed a player during the transfer window, and with an ankle injury to Phil Neville potentially leaving them with just NINE fit senior professionals.

IT'S with a worrying sense of deja vu that a beleaguered Everton travel to The Hawthorns this afternoon. On their last visit to the Black Country back in November 2005, a Goodison outfit chronically lacking confidence and strength in depth were thrashed 4-0 to drop into the relegation zone.

The result came only months after a top-four finish had given Moyes's side a crack at Champions League qualification and supporters the hope their team was capable of challenging for silverware.

Since that false dawn, two top-six finishes and lengthy runs in the Carling and UEFA Cups had reinvigorated fans and given Everton fresh momentum and genuine belief.

EVERTON have been dealt another transfer setback after Tiago snubbed the offer of a 12-month loan deal.

And the Goodison Park outfit have been warned that Rennes have no intention of parting with their highly-rated midfielder Stephane M'bia.

Former Chelsea man Tiago has declined the chance of a return to the Premier League despite his club Juventus agreeing a season-long loan for the player with Everton.

Goodison officials had negotiated a deal which would have given them the option to make the transfer permanent next summer.

But Tiago's preference for a move to Spain has scuppered Everton's hopes, with the player saying yesterday: "I will not be going to Everton."

It's the second time the 27-year-old has backed out of a move to England, having been in a similar situation with Tottenham Hotspur 12 months ago.

Tiago's decision has been confirmed by Juventus.

REAL MADRID are preparing to rival Everton for the signature of Real Zaragoza's Diego Milito.

The Argentina international striker has been a target of Goodison manager David Moyes throughout summer as he seeks to bolster his strikeforce.

Everton were alerted to his availability following Zaragoza's surprise relegation from La Liga at the end of last season.

However, reports in Spain are suggesting Madrid manager Bernd Schuster is now contemplating a move for the player.

Zaragoza, who turned down an offer from Napoli for Milito earlier this summer, have slapped a £16million price tag on the player, although it is thought Madrid are confident a £12m offer could prove successful.

THE campaign for supporters to start bringing their boots to Goodison might want to revise the terms of their crusade.

After all, hard hats would be the more appropriate attire for anyone associated with Everton right now.

A pre-season of inaction in the transfer market, indifferent performances on the field and continued uncertainty off it led to a tangible sense of trepidation heading into the new campaign.

Even before a ball was kicked, David Moyes was expressing concerns over a missed opportunity to build on last season's success and fretting over the size of his threadbare squad.

Early evidence suggests such fears have not been misplaced.

The manner of Saturday's opening-day defeat against Blackburn Rovers served only to strengthen the sense of despair and, more worryingly, resignation that has seeped through the Everton fanbase during the past three months.

DAVID MOYES admits it will be "quite a while" before Everton are ready to realistically challenge in the Premier League this season.

And the Goodison manager concedes he doesn't know if it will be possible to bring in the "six or seven" players he now believes are required before the transfer window closes in a fortnight.

Everton began their campaign with only 10 fit senior professionals as they slumped to a 3-2 home defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Moyes has so far failed in his attempts to bring new recruits to the club, despite being linked to a string of big names during the summer.

With a clutch of first-team regulars either recovering for injury or still striving for match fitness, the Everton manager was forced to hand 17-year-old Jack Rodwell a full debut and name a substitutes' bench without a first-team outfield start between them.

THE conclusive evidence of an eventful summer for Everton was finally there to see in bright royal blue at Goodison Park on Saturday.

But rather than being in the form of a home shirt fitting snugly on the frame of a major new summer signing, it was instead the large swathes of empty seats in the stands that illustrated what has transpired over the past three months.

Everton's final pre-season friendly against PSV Eindhoven was supposed to offer supporters a first glimpse of the anticipated batch of arrivals.

Instead, the only new additions on offer inside Goodison were some snazzy electronic advertising boards and a set of black goal nets.

Had Everton been able to parade even just one big-money capture, then the club could have anticipated a healthy crowd for their now traditional season curtain-raiser, organised in association with the Former Players' Foundation

EVERTON assistant manager Steve Round believes Jose Baxter can emulate the emergence of Wayne Rooney.

The Bootle-born 16-year-old has burst on to the scene during pre-season with a series of impressive displays.

Baxter again caught the eye with a 23-minute substitue appearance as Everton drew 1-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Bazter showed flashes of skill and confidence beyond his years, drawing immediate comparisons with Rooney, who also emerged on the Everton stage at a similar age. And assistant manager Round was delighted at the young midfielder's display.

EVERTON are hopeful of sealing the loan signing of CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love in the next 48 hours.

And the Goodison Park outfit are continuing negotiations to bring Rennes midfielder Stephane M'bia and Newcastle United's Alan Smith to the club by the end of the week.

Brazil international Love is due on Merseyside for talks over a season-long stay with a view to a permanent move.