Republic Of Ireland international defender Richard Dunne looks almost certain to round off what has already been a hectic week by completing a move from Everton to another premiership club over the next couple of days.
Manchester City, Charlton Athletic and another, unnamed first division club, all made enquiries about the 21-year-old Dubliner yesterday and with Walter Smith still prepared to accept the same £2.5 million fee agreed with Wimbledon last month, a deal now looks inevitable.
"All I've heard so far is what I've read on the text," said Dunne yesterday, "but the word seem to be that a few clubs have been in so I just have to wait and see if anything comes of it now." Later, the player's father, Dick, who advises him, confirmed that talks were taking place although nothing had yet been agreed between the clubs.
Having been advised by Mick McCarthy that, if he doesn't figure in Smith's plans in his preferred central defensive role, his best option at this stage would be to move, the young Irishman made it clear that he was now determined to do just that remarking that "I still haven't had a chance to talk to the manager about my position but I think if another club came in for me now I'd be gone."
With a little luck, he may be in a position to take his pick of destinations with Manchester City confirming last night that they had made a firm enquiry to Everton regarding the player's availability and conceding that there is competition for his signature. "If all goes well," said the club's Chief Operating Officer, Chris Bird, "we would hope to get down to some serious talks over the weekend. " If came to a straight choice, though, Dunne would almost certainly opt for a move to Maine Road where he would be reunited with the man who signed him for Everton in the first place, Joe Royle.
After bringing him to Goodison, Royle also gave the then 17-year-old his first team debut in the FA Cup against Swindon Town and he said yesterday that, if the two club's officials could reach a deal that Dunne is a player "I would love to come here".
In the meantime, the defender has been named in Everton's squad for today's game against Southampton but said that he had not heard anything regarding his chances of playing in the game. With a move so close it now seems unlikely that he will play although even if Smith, who has several injury problems to contend with, does start him in the centre of his defence, it will hardly be enough to cool Dunne's desire to get away and prove himself somewhere else.
Meanwhile Jaap Stam will step up his rehabilitation from an Achilles operation after having his plaster cast removed.
The Manchester United defender is now wearing a removable cast and he will be reporting to United's Carrington training ground for daily treatment.
"I had the plaster cast taken off and replaced with a removable one," he said.
Despite Stam's progress, he insists it is too early to set a date for his comeback.
