David Moyes, the Everton manager, is planning another raid on Manchester United as he tries to persuade Darren Fletcher that his talent is being wasted at Old Trafford. Moyes has enticed Tim Howard and Phil Neville from United in recent years and he is preparing a bid to sign Fletcher, who is held in high regard by Sir Alex Ferguson, but, at 24, has struggled to establish himself as an integral member of the manager’s squad.

Moyes hopes to convince the Scotland midfield player that he would benefit from a settled run with Everton, but first he must persuade United to sell. With less than a year on his contract at Old Trafford, Fletcher could cost as little as £5 million, but United may be willing to offer him a new contract if he indicates he is prepared to stay to fight for his place.

Moyes also hopes to sign a centre forward and has identified Darren Bent, of Tottenham Hotspur, and Diego Milito, of Real Zaragoza, as candidates. Despite public denials, Everton are expected to sell Andrew Johnson, who is attracting interest from Sunderland but is giving serious consideration to a move to Wigan Athletic, which would mean less upheaval for his family. Both clubs are willing to break their transfer record and pay up to £10 million to sign the England forward.

Decent bets

AC Milan claim that Arsenal want to negotiate the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor, but Adriano Galliani, the club vice-president said that Barcelona would be the Togo forward’s first choice of destination. “Today Arsenal sent us a letter saying they were willing to talk to us about Adebayor,” Galliani told a television station. “If Adebayor decides to leave, Milan definitely want him, but it is clear that if an offer arrives from Barcelona it would be difficult for him to say no.”

Liverpool are waiting for Aston Villa’s response to their improved offer for Gareth Barry, the midfield player. Villa hope to sign Steve Finnan as part of the deal, but the Liverpool full back has a year left on his contract at Anfield and is not certain to move. Villa remain interested in signing James Milner, but the winger is yet to learn whether Newcastle United are willing to sell him.

The acrimony between Barry and Villa took a new twist yesterday when it emerged that Villa were not permitted to suspend and fine Barry, as they did, for comments that he made about Martin O’Neill, the manager, last week. The Professional Footballers’ Association has confirmed that Villa could suspend Barry without pay, or fine him, but not both because the player is being punished twice. Tottenham have rejected the terms of VfB Stuttgart’s offer for Kevin-Prince Boateng. The North London club have asked for in excess of £600,000 for a loan deal for the midfield player, who cost £4.9 million from Hertha Berlin last summer.

Robert Green’s negotiations with West Ham United over a new contract have stalled. The goalkeeper, whose £28,000-a-week deal has another four years to run, is seeking parity with other regular first-team players. Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers are monitoring his situation.

Charlton Athletic are set to sell Madjid Bougherra to Real Betis. The Spanish side have offered £2.3 million for the Algeria defender.

Long shots

Manchester City are reported to be monitoring Simon Vukcevic, the Sporting Lisbon and Montenegro midfield player. Vukcevic, 22, has also been linked with Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, and Sporting will push for a sum in excess of £5 million, with part of any fee going to FC Saturn, his former club in Russia.

Juventus’s proposed move to sign Xabi Alonso from Liverpool appears to have stalled after it emerged that the Serie A club are trying to acquire Christian Poulsen, the Seville and Denmark midfield player who would cost £10 million, about £8 million less than the Spain player.

Derby County’s attempts to buy Rob Hulse, the Sheffield United forward, appear to have fallen through.