Jo joins Galatasary

Jô has joined Galatasary on loan until the end of this season from Manchester City.

The Brazilian forward had been on a season's loan at Everton but David Moyes agreed to release him after being disappointed by both his form and his discipline. Jô was recently suspended after making an unauthorised trip to Brazil.

The Turkish club's sporting director, Haldun Ustunel, came to England to conclude a deal for a player who has failed to make a consistent impact since join City from CSKA Moscow for £19m in 2008.

>>guardian.co.uk

And with that surely goes any hope Jo may have had of a career in the Premier League.

Farmed out on loan to Everton by Mark Hughes last year - either banished out of sight or to help him try and adapt the rigours of the Premier League by getting regularly depending on your perspective - he performed adequately over the second half of last season, but hasn't been able to match that form during 2009/10.

Add to that his recent indiscretion when he went AWOL over the Christmas period, and David Moyes (perhaps like Mark Hughes before him) got rid at the first opportunity.

I don't see a way back for him with us, and I'd imagine potential Premier League suitors will hardly be enamoured with him now either (particularly given his wage levels) so the hope is that a European side like Galatasary - who have the capacity to offer a big wage deal - will take him off our hands this summer.

It will likely take writing off virtually the whole of the £19 million fee though, and surely making him the biggest transfer mistake we have ever made.

Now for Lescott?

Mark Hughes has been tidily ticking off his list of targets so far this summer, and if reports are to believed then Everton defender Joleon Lescott is now up next.

The move would make sense given there is a need to strengthen the defence both in depth and quality and Lescott possesses the characteristics Hughes has generally sought when bringing players to the club.

A potential fee could be in the region of £15-£18 million, with Lescott believed to be able to double his current salary. Everton do not appear to be in any rush to sell but the nature of the game these days is that there is no longer a player who isn't for sale. Rightly or wrongly, if Lescott walks into David Moyes's office and tells him he wants out then there is little Everton can realistically do bar trying and leverage as high a fee as possible.

The MEN follows up on this theme, stating that for a move to happen the ball is now in Lescott's court and that we may be able to sweeten the deal by including Jo in any offer.

Jo to return

Jo is to return to Manchester City at the end of the season after Everton admitted they cannot afford to sign the Brazilian permanently.

"I don't see where we could even come close to getting the money they spent on him," said Moyes on the club's official website.

"But a loan has not been put to us or spoken about at all yet.

"It's something that, at the moment, we've not had any indication that they would have interest in. Obviously that means he will go back to Manchester City."

>>skysports.com

As well as he may have done on loan at Everton, I've not seen or heard any indication that Hughes now seems him in his long term plans, but maybe the past six months could herald a new start for a player who, undoubtedly, does have plenty of potential.

Jo completes Everton switch

Everton have agreed a deal to bring Brazilian international Jo to Goodison Park on loan.

The Manchester City striker is set to move to Everton until the end of the season, bolstering manager David Moyes' striking options.

Officials from the two clubs met in the centre of Manchester on Saturday night to discuss the details of the move, Everton's first during the January transfer window.

Jo has now agreed personal terms with Everton and will arrive at the Club's Finch Farm training base on Monday to complete the loan move ahead of the 5pm transfer deadline.

The 21-year-old forward was signed by Mark Hughes from CSKA Moscow last summer for £18m.

He has made 12 starts for City, netting three goals.

>>evertonfc.com

Confirmation of the news first mentioned here.

Friday transfer round up - a busy morning

A busy day news wise so far, with a further bid for Roque Santa Cruz being rejected by Blackburn. Mark Hughes said of the bid:

"Yesterday afternoon we put an improved bid in for Roque
Santa Cruz that was rejected, (the bid) an improvement. “We have to make a
decision on that and the window is open until the second so we’ve got time if we
decide to do that.”

What could be in our favour is that it is being reported that Blackburn are hoping to land either Peter Crouch or El-Hadj Diouf which could signal Santa Cruz's exit from the club.

No further progress on Shay Given, but again, Hughes confirmed their has been a bid lodged:

“The situation with Newcastle is that obviously we’ve put in
a bid for Shay Given and we haven’t had an update on that.
“I’ve said
I’m looking to bring in an experienced keeper and he ticks the box in that
respect. Whether or not the deal happens we’ll have to wait and see."

Furthermore to this, it has been reported that Given has failed to show for training this morning at newcastle.

A couple of players linked with oves out of the club with Fulham being turned down with their bid to take Felipe Caicedo on loan for the remainder of the season, whilst out of favour Jo has been linked with a move to surprise Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim.

Balls In, More Coming ?

Michael Ball has signed on the dotted line in a permanent deal for an 'undiscloed fee' the rumour mill is currently been oiled by the names of James Beattie , Matthew Etherington and Collins John.