It has been a trying few days for Everton, from the resignation of their chief executive to another dire performance in preseason that drew a stinging rebuke from David Moyes, but the club, like the manager, will hope for better news in a make-or-break week at Goodison Park.

Everton are expected to hear in the coming days whether their proposed move to a new 55,000-capacity stadium in Kirkby, outside the Liverpool city boundary, will face a public inquiry. Should Baroness Andrews, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department for Communities and Local Government, opt to “call in” the controversial project, Everton fear that the whole development will be scuppered, although of no less concern to Moyes is the poor form of a depleted squad that he is struggling to bolster with the new season looming.

A 2-0 defeat by Chicago Fire in the United States on Wednesday was Everton’s third loss in five preseason games and Moyes, who has yet to make a single signing this summer, wants “five or six” new players in before the club’s opening game at home to Blackburn Rovers on August 16. Yet the manager conceded yesterday that nothing was imminent on the transfer front.

Sporting Lisbon rejected an £11.8 million offer for João Moutinho, while Real Zaragoza are demanding in excess of £10 million for Diego Milito, the Argentina striker.

Moyes will at least by buoyed to hear Mikel Arteta, the midfield player, insist that he will not be leaving the club and the manager himself is expected to agree a new long-term contract.

Meanwhile, Paul Davidson, the British entrepreneur who has taken control of Real Mallorca, has denied suggestions that he has asked Keith Wyness, who resigned as Everton chief executive this week, to join the Spanish club.